Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition activity of five Salvia taxa from Turkey

Salvia L. species are widely used for treatment of different disorders in traditional Turkish medicine. In this study, the methanol extracts of five Salvia taxa, including S. aucheri subsp. canescens, S. aytachii, S. heldreichiana, S. viridis, and S. wiedemannii were investigated for their antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibitory potentials which are related with health-benefit properties. In addition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined with Folin- Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride spectrophotometric method, respectively. Screening of enzyme inhibition activity was performed out using ELISA microplate reader. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′ -Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging and iron chelating tests. The S. aytachii extract was found with highest total phenol content (77.82 ± 1.76 µg PE/mg) and total flavonoid content (22.33 ± 0.17 µg QE/mg) as dry weight basis. These findings specify that the investigated Salvia taxa for anticholinesterase activity can be appealed further phytochemical estimation for spotting its active components.