Polyphenol content, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Salvia officinalis L. leaves from the Ouled Tebben Highlands, Algeria: a preliminary assessment

Amel BOUZABATA; Imene ROUABAH; Youcef HADEF

doi:10.55779/nsb18112797

Authors

Amel BOUZABATA Badji-Mokhtar University, Pharmacy Department (DZ) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1211-2419
Imene ROUABAH Badji-Mokhtar University, Pharmacy Department (DZ)
Youcef HADEF Badji-Mokhtar University, Pharmacy Department (DZ) https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8597-1110

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55779/nsb18112797

Keywords:

antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, DPPH, medicinal plants, polyphenols, Salvia officinalis

Abstract

The present study provides a preliminary assessment of the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties of aqueous (EA) and hydromethanolic (EHM) extracts obtained from Salvia officinalis L. leaves collected in the Ouled Tebben Highlands, Algeria. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while antioxidant activity was assessed via DPPH radical scavenging assay. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The EHM extract showed higher phenolic content (TPC) with values of 179.00 ± 0.47, vs. 101.95 ± 0.76 mg GAE/g DW (EA). The EHM extract exhibited a more pronounced antibacterial effect against Gram-positive bacterial strains, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp., with inhibition zone diameters of 16.00 ± 0.47 mm and 16.00 ± 0.81 mm, respectively. In contrast, EA extract demonstrated a higher free radical scavenging activity than the EHM extract, with respective IC₅₀ values of 81.10 µg/mL vs. 114.86 µg/mL. These findings represent exploratory data and provide a basis for future studies incorporating biological replicates and inferential statistical analysis. Future studies focusing on geo-climatic variability and its impact on phenolic biosynthesis in Algerian sage populations are essential to better understand phytochemical variability and optimize its pharmacological potential.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abarca-Vargas R, Zamilpa A, Petricevich VL (2019). Development and validation of conditions for extracting flavonoids content and evaluation of antioxidant and cytoprotective activities from Bougainvillea × buttiana bracteas (var. Rose). Antioxidants 8(8):264. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8080264

Al-Turki A, El-Ziney M, Abdel-Salam A (2008). Chemical and anti-bacterial characterization of aqueous extracts of oregano, marjoram, sage and licorice and their application in milk and labneh. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment 6(1):39-44.

Asadi S, Ahmadiani A, Esmaeili M, Sonboli A, Ansari N, Khodagholi F (2010). In vitro antioxidant activities and an investigation of neuroprotection by six Salvia species from Iran: A comparative study. Food and Chemical Toxicology 48(5):1341-1349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2010.02.035

Athamena S, Chalghem I, Kassah-Laouar A, Laroui S (2010). Activité anti-oxydante et antimicrobienne d’extraits de Cuminum cyminum L. [Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Cuminum cymimum L. extracts]. Lebanese Science Journal 11(1):69-81.

Bel Hadj Salah-Fatnassi K, Hassayoun F, Cheraif I, Khan S, Jannet H, Hammami M, … Harzallah-Skhiri F (2017). Chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal activities of flower head and root essential oils of Santolina chamaecyparissus L., growing wild in Tunisia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 24(4):875-882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.03.005

Belkacem N, Azzi R, Djaziri R (2022). Phytochemical screening, total phenolics contents and in vitro antioxidant activity of Salvia officinalis, Satureja calamintha, Mentha pulegium and Marrubium vulgare. Phytothérapie 20(1-2):23-28. https://doi.org/10.3166/phyto-2021-0255

Ben Farhat M, Landoulsi A, Chaouch-Hamada R, Sotomayor JA, Jordán MJ (2013). Characterization and quantification of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of Salvia species growing in different habitats. Industrial Crops and Products 49:904-914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.06.047

Bohui P, Adima A, Niamké F, N’Guessan J (2018). Étude comparative de trois méthodes d’extraction des flavonoïdes totaux à partir des feuilles de plantes médicinales: Azadirachta indica et Psidium guajava [Comparative study of three methods for extraction total flavonoids from the leaves of medicinal plants: Azadirachta indica and Psidium guajava]. Journal de la Société Ouest-Africaine de Chimie 46:50-58.

Boudjelal A, Henchiri C, Sari M, Sarri D, Hendel N, Benkhaled A, Ruberto G (2013). Herbalists and wild medicinal plants in M’Sila (North Algeria): an ethnopharmacology survey. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 148:395-402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.03.082

Boufadi MY, Keddari S, Moulai-Hacene F, Chaa S (2021). Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Salvia officinalis extract from Algeria. Pharmacognosy Journal 13(2):506-515. https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2021.13.64

Bouteldja R, Doucene R, Aggad H, Abdi FZ, Belkhodja H, Abdali M, ... Siham A (2021). Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Salvia officinalis (L.) extracts from the Tiaret region. European Journal Biological Research 11:356-366. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5129324

Cheok C, Chin N, Yusof Y, Talib R, Law C (2013). Optimization of total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA) and total phenolic content (TPC) extractions from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) hull using ultrasonic treatments. Industrial Crops and Products 50:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.024

Chouli C (2017). Contribution à l’étude des paramètres édaphiques de la Yeuseraie de Ouled Tebbane Willaya de Sétif [Contribution of study edaphic parameters of Yeuserai from Ouled Tebbane, Setif district]. MSc Dissertation, University of Mohamed Boudiaf, M’sila, Algeria.

Chrysargyris A, Evangelides E, Tzortzakis N (2021). Seasonal variation of antioxidant capacity, phenols, minerals and essential oil components of sage, spearmint and sideritis plants grown at different altitudes. Agronomy 11:1766. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091766

CLSI (2025). Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 35td ed. CLSI supplement M100. Wayne, PA: CLSI.

Dahmani S, Dahmani F (2017). Evaluation de l’activité biologique des différents extraits, et des huiles essentielles de la plante: Salvia officinalis L. [Evaluation of biological activity of different extracts and essential oils of the species: Salvia officinalis L.]. MSc Dissertation, University of Mohamed Boudiaf, M’sila, Algeria.

Dias MI, Barros L, Dueñas M, Pereira E, Carvalho A, Alves R, … Ferreira IC (2013). Chemical composition of wild and commercial Achillea millefolium L. and bioactivity of the methanolic extract, infusion and decoction. Food Chemistry 141(4):4152-4160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.018

Duletic-Lausevic S, Alimpic-Aradski A, Zivkovic J, Gligorijevic N, Savikin K, Radulovic S, … Marin P (2019). Evaluation of bioactivities and phenolic composition of extracts of Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) collected in Montenegro. Botanica Serbica 43(1):47-58. https://doi.org/10.2298/BOTSERB1901047D

Efthymios P, Constantinos G, Georgios KV (2020). Current state of the art on the antioxidant activity of sage (Salvia spp.) and its bioactive components. Planta Medica 86(4):224-238. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1087-8276

El-Haoud H, Boufellous M, Berrani A, Tazougart H, Bengueddour R (2018). Screening phytochimique d’une plante médicinale: Mentha spicata L. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences 7:226-233.

Essawi T, Srour M (2000). Screening of some Palestinian medicinal plants for antibacterial activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 70(3):343-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00187-7

GADM (2026). Database of Global Administrative Areas, version 4.1. Retrieved 2026 March 5 from https://gadm.org

Generalić I, Skroza D, Šurjak J, Možina S, Ljubenkov I, Katalinić A, Katalinić V (2012). Seasonal variations of phenolic compounds and biological properties in sage (Salvia officinalis L.). Chemistry Biodiversity 9(2):441-457. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201100219

Ghorbani A, Esmaeilizadeh M (2017). Pharmacological properties of Salvia officinalis and its components. Journal of Traditional Complementary Medicine 7(4):433-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.014

GraphPad Prism (2026). Prism for Windows 64-bit version 11.0.0 (84) GraphPad Software, Boston, Massachusetts USA. Retrieved 2026 March 1 from http://www.graphpad.com

Hamidpour M, Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Shahlari M (2014). Chemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal property of sage (Salvia) to prevent and cure illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, depression, dementia, lupus, autism, heart disease, and cancer. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 4:82-88. https://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.130373

Hayam MI, Abu-Salem MF (2014). Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plant extracts. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Engineering 8(10):1168-1173.

Hayouni EA, Abedrabba M, Bouix M, Hamdi M (2007). The effects of solvents and extraction method on the phenolic contents and biological activities in vitro of Tunisian Quercus coccifera L. and Juniperus phoenicea L. fruit extracts. Food Chemistry 105(3):1126-1134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.02.010

Jasicka-Misiak I, Poliwoda A, Petecka M, Buslovych O, Shlyapnikov V, Wieczorek P (2018). Antioxidant phenolic compounds in Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia sclarea L. Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S 25:133-142. https://doi.org/10.1515/eces-2018-0009

Kadhim MS, Mohammed MM, Ahmed OM, Noori Jassim AM (2016). Study of some Salvia officinalis L. (sage) components and effect of their aqueous extract on antioxidant. International Journal of Chemical Sciences 14(2):711-719.

Katalinić V, Možina S, Skroza D, Generalić I, Abramovič H, Miloš M, … Boban M (2010). Polyphenolic profile, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of grape skin extracts of 14 Vitis vinifera varieties grown in Dalmatia (Croatia). Food Chemistry 119(2):715-723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.07.019

Kerkoub N, Panda SK, Yang M-R, Lu J-G, Jiang Z-H, Nasri H and Luyten W (2018). Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-candida biofilm compounds from methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Salvia officinalis (Annaba, Algeria). Frontiers in Pharmacology 9:1418. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.01418

Khiya Z, Hayani M, Gamar A, Kharchouf S, Amine S, Berrekhis F, ... Elhilali F (2019). Valorization of the Salvia officinalis L. of the Morocco bioactive extracts: Phytochemistry, antioxidant activity and corrosion inhibition. Journal of King Saud University-Science 31:322-335.

Lin JK, Weng MS (2006). Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals. In: Grotewold E (Ed). The Science of Flavonoids. Springer New York NY pp 213-238. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-28822-2_8

Ložienė K, Venskutonis PR, Šipailienė A, Labokas J (2007). Radical scavenging and antibacterial properties of the extracts from different Thymus pulegioides L. chemotypes. Food Chemistry 103(2):546-559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.08.027

Mahmoudi S, Mustapha K (2013). Étude de l’extraction des composés phénoliques de différentes parties de la fleur d’artichaut (Cynara scolymus L.) [Study of the extraction of phenolic compounds from different parts of the artichoke flower (Cynara scolymus L.)]. Nature and Technology 9:35-40.

Martins N, Barros L, Santos-Buelga C, Henriques M, Silva S, Ferreira I (2015). Evaluation of bioactive properties and phenolic compounds in different extracts prepared from Salvia officinalis L. Food Chemistry 170:378-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.08.096

Masibo M, He Q (2009). Mango bioactive compounds and related nutraceutical properties – A review. Food Reviews International 25(4):346-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559120903153524

Mazari K, Bendimerad N, Bekhechi C, Fernandez X (2010). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Algerian Juniperus phoenicea L. and Cupressus sempervirens L. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 4(10):959-964.

Mekhaldi A, Bouznad A, Djibaoui R, Hamoum H (2014). Phytochemical study and biological activity of sage (Salvia officinalis L.). International Journal of Bioengineering and Life Sciences 8(11):1253-1257.

Mizi L, Cofrades S, Bou R, Pintado T, López-Caballero M, Zaidi F, … Jiménez-Colmenero F (2019). Antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of combined high pressure processing and sage in beef burgers during prolonged chilled storage. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies 51:32-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2018.04.010

N’Guessan K, Kadja B, Zirihi G, Traoré D, Aké-Assi L (2009). Screening phytochimique de quelques plantes médicinales ivoiriennes utilisées en pays Krobou (Agboville, Côte-d’Ivoire) [Phytochemical screening of several Ivorian medicinal plants used in the Krobou region (Agboville, Ivory Coast)]. Sciences and Nature 6(1):1-15.

Naczk M, Shahidi F (2004). Extraction and analysis of phenolics in food. Journal of Chromatography A 1054(1-2):95-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2004.08.059

Nahal Bouderba N, Belmekki A, Ghassel A, Kadi H (2018). Antioxidant activities and antifungal screening of Salvia officinalis flavonoids. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences 8(1):6-13.

Ouelbani R, Bensari S, Mouas TN, Khelifi D (2016). Ethno botanical investigations on plants used in folk medicine in the regions of Constantine and Mila (North-East of Algeria). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 194:196-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.08.016

Pereira O, Catarino M, Afonso A, Silva A, Cardoso S (2018). Salvia elegans, Salvia greggii and Salvia officinalis decoctions: Antioxidant activities and inhibition of carbohydrate and lipid metabolic enzymes. Molecules 23:3169. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23123169

Ponce A, Roura S, del Valle C, Moreira M (2008). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of edible coatings enriched with natural plant extracts: In vitro and in vivo studies. Postharvest Biology and Technology 49(2):294-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.02.013

Pop A, Tofană M, Socaci S, Pop C, Rotar A, Nagy M, Salanță L (2016). Determination of antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity of selected Salvia species. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology 73:14-18. https://doi.org/10.15835/buasvmcn-fst:11965

Quézel P, Santa S (1963). Nouvelle flore de l’Algérie et des régions désertiques méridionales [New flora of Algeria and the southern desert regions]. Edition du Centre National de la recherche scientifique. Paris, France.

Rezagui M, Chiahi N (2024). Evaluate the beneficial effects of Salvia officinalis L. extracts by assessing their activity. Iranian Journal of Plant Physiology 14(4):5307-5313.

Roby MHH, Sarhan MA, Selim K, Khalel KAH (2013). Evaluation of antioxidant activity, total phenols and phenolic compounds in thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) extracts. Industrial Crops and Products 43:827-831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.08.029

Saǧdıç O, Özcan M (2003). Antibacterial activity of Turkish spice hydrosols. Food Control 14(3):141-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-7135(02)00057-9

Saito S, Kawabata J (2005). Effects of electron-withdrawing substituents on DPPH radical scavenging reactions of protocatechuic acid and its analogues in alcoholic solvents. Tetrahedron 61(34):8101-8108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2005.06.040

Sánchez-Moreno C, Larrauri J, Saura-Calixto F (1998). A procedure to measure the antiradical efficiency of polyphenols. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 76:270-276. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199802)76:2<270::AID-JSFA945>3.0.CO;2-9

Sharma O, Bhat T (2009). DPPH antioxidant assay revisited. Food Chemistry 113(4):1202-1205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.08.008

Sirry S, Babiker H (2017). Comparison of free radical scavenging capacities of methanol extract of two mint species by fixed point and kinetic methods. Algerian Journal of Natural Products 5:562-572. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1133443

Skrypnik L, Maslennikov P, Antipina M, Katserov D, Feduraev P (2024). Comparative study on the response of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.), salvia (Salvia officinalis L.), and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) to drought stress under foliar application of selenium. Plants 13:2986. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13212986

Soni A, Sosa SE (2013). Phytochemical analysis and free radical scavenging potential of herbal and medicinal plant extracts. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2(4):22-29.

Sripad G, Prakash V, Rao M (1982). Extractability of polyphenols of sunflower seed in various solvents. Journal of Biosciences 4:145-152. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02702723

Stagos D, Portesis N, Spanou C, Mossialos D, Aligiannis N, Chaita E, ... Kouretas D (2012). Correlation of total polyphenolic content with antioxidant and antibacterial activity of 24 extracts from Greek domestic Lamiaceae species. Food and Chemical Toxicology 50(11):4115-4124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.033

Talbi H, Boumaza A (2015). Évaluation de l’activité antioxydante et la composition physico-chimique des extraits méthanolique et aqueux de Nigella sativa L. [Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and physicochemical composition of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Nigella sativa L.]. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science 6(4):1111-1117.

Telli A, Esnault MA, Khelil AOEH (2016). An ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in traditional diabetes treatment in south-eastern Algeria (Ouargla province). Journal of Arid Environments 127:82-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.11.005

Tidjani S, Adaika C, Djaber S (2020). Study of the influence of solvents on the polyphenols content of Salvia officinalis L. extracts and the effect on antioxidant activity. Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences 12(1):497-507. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jfas.v12il.29

Turkmen N, Velioglu YS, Sari F, Polat G (2007). Effect of extraction conditions on measured total polyphenol contents and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of black tea. Molecules 12(3):484-496. https://doi.org/10.3390/12030484

Vieira SF, Ferreira H, Neves NM (2020). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of cytocompatible Salvia officinalis extracts: A comparison between traditional and Soxhlet extraction. Antioxidants 9:1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9111157