Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVII, Issue 1
Written by Behnaz RAHMANIFAR, Oana LIVADARIU, Călina Petruța CORNEA
Salvia genus is the largest member of the Lamiaceae family with around 900 species and is widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions. These species are usually aromatic and have numerous pharmacological and therapeutic applications. They are used in traditional medicine to treat eczema, colds, bronchitis, digestive problems, sore throat, tuberculosis, haemorrhage, some cardiovascular and menstrual disorder. Modern studies suggest that various Salvia species have antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These activities are consequence of biosynthesized bioactive substances, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, etc. These chemical constituents refer to as secondary metabolites and exert multiple therapeutic activities without showing important side effects. The present review summarized the information published in the scientific literature on the secondary metabolites in Salvia spp. In addition, the recent biotechnological approaches, advances in metabolic engineering strategies, successful results and potential problems were presented.
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