A. Sivropoulou et al., ANTIMICROBIAL, CYTOTOXIC, AND ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITIES OF SALVIA-FRUCTICOSA ESSENTIAL OIL, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 45(8), 1997, pp. 3197-3201
Salvia fructicosa essential oil analyzed by gas chromatography/mass sp
ectrometry showed high contents of 1,8-cineole, alpha- and beta-thujon
e, and camphor, representing 47.48%, 11.93%, and 9.04% of the total oi
l, respectively. The essential oil and its isolated components thujone
and 1,8-cineole exhibited antimicrobial activity against eight bacter
ial strains, while camphor was almost inactive against all of the bact
eria tested. The essential oil was bactericidal at 1/4000 dilution, an
d dilutions up to 1/10000 caused considerable decrease in bacterial gr
owth rates. The essential oil of S. fructicosa and the three main comp
onents exhibited cytotoxic activity against African Green Monkey kidne
y (Vero) cells and high levels of virucidal. activity against herpes s
implex virus 1, a ubiquitous human virus.