''Salvia lavandulifolia'' (Spanish sage) is a small woody herbaceous perennial native to Spain and southern France, growing in rocky soil in Maquis shrubland, often found growing with

rosemary ''Salvia rosmarinus'' (), commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was known by the scientific name ''Rosmar ...

, '' Lavandula lanata'', and ''

Genista cinerea Genista is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family Fabaceae, native to open habitats such as moorland and pasture in Europe and western Asia. They include species commonly called broom, though the term may also refer to other genera, i ...

''. ''S. lavandulifolia'' grows tall and wide, with a reclining habit and narrow, lanceolate, whitish-gray evergreen leaves that are less than long. The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem and appear to grow in bunches. When the leaves are rubbed, oils give off a fragrance similar to rosemary. These oils are used for scenting soaps. The long, pale lavender flowers grow on short inflorescences, blooming for about one month in late spring and early summer. The flowering stems have very few flowers on widely spaced whorls. Some varieties have a dark calyx.

Biochemistry

The essential oil of ''S. lavandulifolia'' has been found to have a selective acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting effect, (in as far as the regions of the brain in which acetylcholinesterase activity has been demonstrated, such areas are striatum and hippocampus) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.03 μg/ml. The chief reason for this activity are believed to be the monoterpenes

1,8-cineole Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eucal ...

and

α-pinene α-Pinene is an organic compound of the terpene class, one of two isomers of pinene. It is an alkene and it contains a reactive four-membered ring. It is found in the oils of many species of many coniferous trees, notably the pine. It is also ...

which have IC₅₀ values of 0.67 and 0.63 mM, respectively.

Medical effects

A 2003 study indicated that ''S. lavandulifolia'' improves word recall in healthy young adults.

References

External links

* * lavandulifolia Flora of France Flora of Spain Taxa named by Martin Vahl {{Salvia-stub