Farhat G N, Affara N I, Gali-Muhtasib H U
Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Toxicon. 2001 Oct;39(10):1601-5. doi: 10.1016/s0041-0101(01)00143-x.
Sage (Salvia libanotica) is an East Mediterranean plant, the extract of which is used for the treatment of colds, coughs, and stomach ache. Experimental studies on the toxicity of its oil are scarce despite its wide use in traditional medicine. This study aims to provide data on its acute toxicity and to investigate the relationship between seasonal changes in oil composition and toxicity. The composition of the oil extract from the leaves of this plant was determined at four different times of the year; August (summer), October (fall), January (winter) and April (spring). The toxicity of each fraction was investigated following intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection into mice. Distillations of oils from plants and GC analyses revealed that the main constituent of sage oil is 1,8-cineole. Other components included ketones such as camphor and alpha,beta-thujone, terpenes such as limonene and alpha,beta-pinene, and alcohols such as borneol and linalool. Major seasonal changes were found in the composition of the oil. Essential oil extracted from plants collected in the winter season (January) contained higher levels of camphor (12.3%), alpha,beta-thujone (1.9%), and camphene (4.8%). The winter extract was found to be the most toxic, (LD(50): 839 mg/kg body weight) and exhibited powerful convulsant properties. This indicates a strong correlation between the contents of camphor, thujones and camphene and the oils' toxicity. The spring extract was the least toxic (LD(50): 1200 mg/kg body weight) and contained lower levels of camphor (7.7%), alpha,beta-thujone (1.3%) and camphene (3.1%). Thus, we recommend that oil extracts of sage marketed for use in certain unconventional medicines be prepared from spring plants.
鼠尾草（Salvia libanotica）是一种东地中海植物，其提取物用于治疗感冒、咳嗽和胃痛。尽管其在传统医学中广泛使用，但关于其油毒性的实验研究却很少。本研究旨在提供其急性毒性数据，并研究油成分的季节性变化与毒性之间的关系。在一年的四个不同时间测定了这种植物叶子的油提取物成分；八月（夏季）、十月（秋季）、一月（冬季）和四月（春季）。通过腹腔注射（i.p.）给小鼠注射后，研究了每个馏分的毒性。对植物油进行蒸馏和气相色谱分析表明，鼠尾草油的主要成分是1,8-桉叶素。其他成分包括酮类如樟脑和α,β-侧柏酮、萜类如柠檬烯和α,β-蒎烯以及醇类如冰片和芳樟醇。在油的成分中发现了主要的季节性变化。从冬季（一月）采集的植物中提取的精油含有较高水平的樟脑（12.3%）、α,β-侧柏酮（1.9%）和莰烯（4.8%）。发现冬季提取物毒性最大（半数致死量：839毫克/千克体重），并表现出强大的惊厥特性。这表明樟脑、侧柏酮和莰烯的含量与油的毒性之间存在很强的相关性。春季提取物毒性最小（半数致死量：1200毫克/千克体重），且樟脑（7.7%）、α,β-侧柏酮（1.
