[Plant anatomical and phytochemical evaluation of Salvia species].

Plant-anatomical and phytochemical investigations were carried out on three Salvia species: S.officinalis L., S.sclarea L., S.pratensis L. It was established that the structure of the glandular hairs of the three species doesn't differ from each other but the characteristics of the covering hairs are different. The covering hairs of sage (Salvia officinalis) consist of 1-4 cells and have protective function. The hairs of the other two Salvia species are bristle hairs. The highest essential oil content was found in sage and the lowest one in S. pratensis. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the essential oils of Salvia species was also various but the qualitative composition of leaf, calix and petal of the same Salvia species was characteristical standard; significant differences were found only in their quantitative composition. Sclareol diterpene alcohol was the main component of the hexane extract obtained from clary sage flowering herb. In polyphenol ingredients Salvia officinalis was the richest. The results demonstrated that the 20% ethanol is the best of the 20, 40, 70% alcoholic solvents, for the extraction of polyphenol compounds. It was established that the rosmarinic acid depside was the main component of polyphenols. Mineral elements were also analysed in the Salvia species leaves as well in the alcoholic and wateric extracts of sage. The magnesium content was considerable in S. pratensis, the zinc content was the highest in S. officinalis.