Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the European Union, the National Strategic Reference
Framework (QREN), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and Operational Programme
Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE), for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (QOPNA) (FCT
UID/QUI/00062/2019) and Mountain Research Center (CIMO) (UID/AGR/00690/2019), through national funds and where applicable co-financed by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. A. Fernandes and R.
Calhelha thank the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract.
Project AgroForWealth (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000001), funded by Centro2020, through FEDER and PT2020, financed the research contract of Susana M. Cardoso.
Salvia apiana and Salvia farinacea var. Victoria Blue decoctions were screened for diverse
bioactivities, including the ability to counteract oxidative and inflammatory events, as well as to act
as cytotoxic and antimicrobial agents. Both extracts showed good activities and that of S. apiana origin
was particularly effective regarding the ability to prevent lipid peroxidation and to prevent nitric oxide
(NO ) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line
(EC50 = 50 µg/mL). Moreover, it displayed high cytotoxic capacity against hepatocellular carcinoma
HepG2, cervical carcinoma HeLa, and breast carcinoma cells MCF-7, but comparatively low effects
in porcine liver primary cells, which highlights its selectivity (GI50 = 41–60 µg/mL vs. 362 µg/mL,
respectively). Further, it exhibited inhibitory and lethal potential against a panel of Gram-positive
and Gram-negative bacteria. It is possible that the bioactive properties of the two Salvia extracts are
associated to their phenolic components and, in the particular case of S. apiana, to its richness in
phenolic terpenes, namely in rosmanol, hydroxycarnosic acid and a derivative of sageone, which were
found in the extract.
