Systematic Review of Clinical Trials Assessing Pharmacological Properties of Salvia Species on Memory, Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

• Published in: CNS neuroscience & therapeutics 2014-06, Vol.20 (6), p.485-495
• Main Authors: Miroddi, Marco, Navarra, Michele, Quattropani, Maria C., Calapai, Fabrizio, Gangemi, Sebastiano, Calapai, Gioacchino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer's disease; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition Disorders - drug therapy; Cognitive impairment; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Medical sciences; Memory; Memory - drug effects; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Phytotherapy - methods; Plant Preparations; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Review; Salvia; Salvia - chemistry; Salvia lavandulaefolia; Salvia officinalis
• ISSN: 1755-5930; 1755-5949
• DOI: 10.1111/cns.12270

Summary Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia lavandulaefolia L. have a longstanding use as traditional herbal remedies that can enhance memory and improve cognitive functions. Pharmacological actions of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia on healthy subjects and on patients suffering of cognitive decline have been investigated. Aim of this review was to summarize published clinical trials assessing effectiveness and safety of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia in the enhancement of cognitive performance in healthy subjects and neurodegenerative illnesses. Furthermore, to purchase a more complete view on safety of S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia, we collected and discussed articles regarding toxicity and adverse reactions. Eight clinical studies investigating on acute effects of S. officinalis on healthy subjects were included in the review. Six studies investigated on the effects of S. officinalis and S. lavandaeluaefolia on cognitive performance in healthy subjects. The two remaining were carried out to study the effects of sage on Azheimer's disease. Our review shows that S. officinalis and S. lavandulaefolia exert beneficial effects by enhancing cognitive performance both in healthy subjects and patients with dementia or cognitive impairment and is safe for this indication. Unfortunately, promising beneficial effects are debased by methodological issues, use of different herbal preparations (extracts, essential oil, use of raw material), lack of details on herbal products used. We believe that sage promising effects need further higher methodological standard clinical trials.