CONTRIBUTIONS to SCIENCE, 8 (2): 77–84 (2012) Institut d’Estudis Catalans, Barcelona DOI: 10.2436/20.7010.01.137 ISSN: 1575­6343 www.cat-science.cat research articles Ethnobotanical study of the sages used in traditional Valencian medicine and as essential oil: Characterization of an endemic Salvia and its contribution to local development* Vanessa Martínez-Francés,1,2* Emeline Hahn,2 Jorge Juan-Vicedo,1 Roser Vila,2 Segundo Ríos,1 Salvador Cañigueral2 1. Torretes Field Station, Research University Institute CIBIO, University of Alacant, Alacant 2. Unity of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona Resum. Set espècies de Salvia i dues de Phlomis, emprades Abstract. Seven wild and cultivated Salvia species and two en la medicina tradicional valenciana en preparats d’ús intern i Phlomis species, used traditionally in Valencian medicine to extern per a tractar diferents malalties, han sigut estudiades. treat a variety of external and internal ailments, were studied. S’aporten noves dades etnobotàniques obtingudes mitjançant New ethnobotanical data are provided, obtained from semi­ la realització d’entrevistes semiestructurades a trenta­quatre structured interviews with 34 people in the Valencian area. A informants. Es presenta la caracterització estacional de l’oli es­ seasonal characterization of the essential oil of a wild sage, sencial d’una sàlvia silvestre Salvia blancoana Webb & Heldr. Salvia blancoana Webb & Heldr. subsp. mariolensis Figuerola, subsp. mariolensis Figuerola, per GC­FID i GC­MS, com una by GC­FID and GC­MS was carried out as a means to ensure eina per a assegurar un control de qualitat a les espècies endè­ quality control of endemic traditional species such as this one, miques d’ús tradicional com aquesta, que eventualment són which has been commercialized by local industries. A compari­ comercialitzades per indústries locals. La comparació del seu son with the essential oil of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl subsp. oli essencial amb el de la Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl subsp. la- lavandulifolia allowed inclusion of the wild sage within the com­ vandulifolia permet la seua comercialització sota el nom de sàl- mercial ‘Spanish sage’ oil. via espanyola. Keywords: Salvia ∙ ethnobotany ∙ chromatographic Paraules clau: Salvia ∙ etnobotànica ∙ identificació identification ∙ medicinal ∙ Valencia region cromatogràfica ∙ medicinal ∙ País Valencià Abbreviations HPTLC: High performance thin layer chromatography MS: Mass spectrometry EMA: European Medicines Agency NBS: National Bureau of Standards library FDA: Food and Drug Administration NMR: Nuclear magnetic resonance FFT: Full flowering time WHO: World Health Organization GC­FID: Gas chromatography­flame ionization detector GC­MS: Gas chromatography­mass spectrometry HS­GC­MS: Headspace gas chromatography­mass spec­ Introduction trometry HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography Sage has been considered an important medicinal plant since HPLC/MS/MS: High performance liquid chromatography­tan­ earliest times. Its name comes from the Latin salvere, which dem mass spectrometry reflects the relevance of sage to human health. A proverb in the Tabula Salerni, also included in other medicinal treaties, evi­ dences the significance of sage in ancient medicine, which per­ sists even today: Cur moriatur cui salvia crescit in horto? (Why * This contribution was funded by a grant obtained in 2010 from the Institute for Catalan Studies for the study ‘Chemical characterization of should someone die whilst sage grows in his garden?). Salvia the main sages used as a spice or for medicinal purposes in the Valen­ officinalis L. and S. fruticosa Mill. were the reference species in cia region.’ those medicinal treaties [11,22], accounting for the reputation Correspondence: V. Martínez­Francés, Estació Biològica Torretes, I.U. of officinal sages as a panacea, with a wide range of medicinal de la Biodiversiat CIBIO, Universitat d’Alacant, Crtra. Sant Vicent del effects [4,6]. Raspeig, s/n Sant Vicent del Raspeig E­03690, Alacant, EU. Tel. +34­ 965903400 (ext. 3343). Fax +34­965903815. E­mail: vanessa.martinez In the Mediterranean and Irano­turanic regions, ~40 of the @ua.es approximately 900 of known Salvia species are found. Some of 001-118 Contributions 8-1.indd 77 26/09/2012 8:25:06 78 Contrib. Sci. 8 (1), 2012 Martínez­Francés et al. them are included in two important world­wide commercial groups [21]. One, comprising S. officinalis and similar species, usually cultivated, covers the oriental distribution of this genus in the Mediterranean region. The other is made up of the occi­ dental sage group S. lavandulifolia and other closely related wild species (sometimes cultivated). The lack of consensus among taxonomists regarding the correct traits and their value in accurate species identification has resulted in a misidentifi­ cation of the raw materials used in the marketing of sage­ based products [21]. With the aim of understanding the importance of sages in Valencian folk medicine, an ethnobotanical study was per­ formed. As part of that study, data from seven wild and culti­ vated sages of the Valencia region, often referred to as coarse sages, were compiled: S. blancoana Webb & Heldr. subsp. mariolensis Figuerola, S. lavandulifolia Vahl subsp. lavandulifo- lia, S. microphylla Kuntz, S. officinalis L., S. sclarea L., S. ver- Fig. 1. Study area located in the Valencia region in Spain. benaca subsp. controversa (Ten.) Arcang, S. x auriculata Mill., and two species of Phlomis: P. crinita Cav.and P. purpurea L. In Valencian folk medicine, several wild­cultivated sages in­ Thus, our study sought to demonstrate the importance of cluded in the occidental group are used with the same popular characterizing locally distributed or exploited plant resources in purposes and with greater importance than S. officinalis or S. order to make available information essential to quality control fruticosa. One of them, S. blancoana Webb. & Heldr. subsp. for local industries. In addition, data supporting the culture of mariolensis Figuerola, is endemic in Valencia and Alicante these species, as a complement to wild collections and to en­ provinces. This plant is commonly collected in the wild and sure good management practices for natural resources, are sold by local companies together with a more widely distribut­ provided herein. ed sage, S. lavandulifolia subsp. lavandulifolia. The reduced distribution area of the former and the continuous taxonomic discussions regarding S. lavandulifolia and S. blancoana taxa Materials and methods have resulted in the two species being either grouped together or separated depending on the criteria of the botanist. In the Ethnobotanical study. Semi­structured interviews among present study, the knowledge of the local human population older Valencian, randomly selected, men and women, were was used to compare agronomic information, such as the best carried out. A few younger people were also interviewed in or­ places and season to collect these sages or the permissible der to determine whether herbal­medicine knowledge has storage time, with the data obtained in the laboratory for two of been transmitted. Some of these interviewees joined us in col­ these species. S. lavandulifolia subsp. lavandulifolia and S. lecting the sample material from the field. blancoana subsp. mariolensis, which are marketed as ‘Span­ ish sage.’ Many of the plants used in traditional medicine over the cen­ Phytochemical study turies have not been officially recognized in most countries due Plant material. Aerial parts of Salvia blancoana subsp. mariolen- to a shortage in the amount and the quality of the relevant data sis were collected during the full blooming period from a home [6]. The aim of this study was to supplement current knowl­ garden in Banyeres de Mariola, in Alacant (Sp. Alicante) Prov­ edge as well as to offer an approach to resolving adulteration ince, in June 2009 and 2010. In addition, a sample was collect­ problems in sage preparations. As noted above, these prob­ ed before the flowering stage, also in June 2010. Flowering aer­ lems arise due to the difficulty of botanical identification during ial parts of S. lavandulifolia subsp. lavandulifolia were collected commercialization. For S. blancoana subsp. mariolensis, we in Cinctorres, in Castelló Province, in June 2010. Both provinces propose the phytochemical characterization of this endemic are in the Valencia region, Spain. Plant material was identified medicinal plant in order to contribute to establishing quality­ and a sample of each one was deposited in the Herbarium BCF control parameters for the raw material and its essential oils. of the University of Barcelona. The plant material was dried ac­ This and similar characterizations would clearly define which cording to traditional usage, i.e., at room temperature in a dark, plants can be referred to as ‘Spanish sage.’ dry place, in the Biological Station of Torretes (Ibi, Alacant). To characterize the Valencian sages included in the ‘Span­ ish sage’ group, quantitative and qualitative investigations of Essential oil preparation. Air­dried plant material was submitted their essential oil in different phenological phases were carried to hydrodistillation with a Clavenger­type apparatus, following out using gas chromatography­flame ionization detection (GC­ the method described in the European Pharmacopeia [8]. The FID) and gas chromatography­mass spectrometry (GC­MS) yield was calculated as the average of three replicates