Antioxidant Properties

Sweet, savory sage (Salvia officinalis) packs a variety of health-giving benefits.  The rosmarinic acid in sage and rosemary also functions as an antioxidant.  The leaves and stems of the sage plant also contain antioxidant enzymes, including a super anti-oxidant called superoxide dismutase (SOD).  SOD also helps to reduce inflammation as well as arthritic pain.  Unfortunately, the effects of SOD decline as we age.  Injury and inflammation also reduce its effect.

The phytochemicals in sage also help to reduce lipid peroxidation, or the adding of oxygen to a fat.  Lipid peroxidation is dangerous and contributes to the complications of many chronic diseases and conditions—diabetes and brain aging, for examples.  Sage also increases the anti-oxidant capacity of the liver—an important matter, because the liver is a hot bed for free radical generation.

General Benefits

When topically applied, sage acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.  It contains oleanolic acid that inhibits Cox-2 enzyme, a major enzyme that promotes inflammation. Sage tea makes an excellent gargle.  For a sage gargle, take 1 cup of boiling water, 2 teaspoons of sage leaves, a pinch or two of salt, step for 20 minutes.  Let cool before gargling.  The German Commission E endorses the use of sage tea as a mouthwash for gingivitis.  Sage can help to relieve spasm in skeletal or smooth muscles.

Sage Wisdom

Previous animal and human studies indicate that sage can improve memory.  In a placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover study, researchers at Northumbria University conducted an experiment on the effect of Spanish sage on the mood and memory of using a total of 24 young healthy adult volunteers.  Participants were given either placebo or a standardized essential oil extract of Spanish sage in doses ranging from 25 to 50 microls. Sage improved the speed of both long- and short-term memory.  Those participants who took the 50 micromoles dose had increased alertness, calmness, and contentment while those individuals who took 25 micromoles had increased calmness. (1)(2)

Animal studies show that chemically, Spanish sage possesses antioxoxidant, anti-inflammatory, sedative properties that could be relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer’s (AD). (3)(4)  The oil in sage inhibits the enzyme AchE (acetylcholinestrase) in brain tissue, and thereby inhibits the rate at which the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is broken down.  It also slows the decline in cognitive abilities in AD patients.  In AD there is a decrease in acetylcholine and other neurortransmitters.  Acetylcholine plays an especially important role in the front brain.  The front brain acts as the CEO of a highly complex and sophisticated enterprise.  As such, it priorities, evaluates, and helps us to plan and execute those plans.  Unfortunately, however, AchE inhibitors do not cure Alzheimer’s disease.

There is more good news, however.  Standardized extract from the leaves of the sage plant and its active ingredient rosmarinic acid help to protect from A.D. in at least seven other ways. (5)

Helps Diabetes

Rodent studies show that sage reduces elevated blood glucose levels in diabetic animals.  Several studies found that sage exerts an anti-diabetic potential  and can help to  reduce elevated blood sugar by several mechanisms. (6) The phytochemical carnosol found in both rosemary and sage reduces elevated blood sugar and blood fats by activating PPAR-gamma receptors. (7)(8) The PPAR-gamma receptors, when activated, also decrease inflammation, ameliorate insulin resistance, and exert anti-cancer effects.  These actions are important because diabetes fuels inflammation and significantly increases the risk for certain cancers.

Sage benefits the diabetic in another way.  When blood sugar is above 120, damage to the body’s protein really speeds up as sugar sticks to the proteins, and consequently changes their shapes. This, of course, either compromises or interferes with their function (a process known as glycation).  Some glycation normally occurs, but glycation of protein from elevated blood sugar accelerates aging and fuels diabetic complications.  Lab studies demonstrate that both sage and rosemary significantly reduce protein glycation.  9  More studies are warranted and the safe dosage for medicinal use in humans need to be determined, but sage does offer promise. Of course, no herb can substitute for good lifestyle interventions and appropriate medical care.  Diabetic patients should consult with their doctors before using medicinal amounts of sage.

Usage

Because of its anti-perspiring actions sage should not be used if fever is present. Individuals with iron deficient anemia should avoid medicinal amounts of sage. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should avoid medicinal amounts of sage because sage dries up breast milk production. Check with your pharmacists for any possible adverse drug-herb interactions if you are taking medicine (prescribed or over-the-counter). Very large amounts (15 grams) of sage taken internally could evoke a seizure. Do not ingest sage oil. Sage can interfere with aspirin, anticonvulsive medications and potentiate the effect of sedatives.
For a medicinal tea, add 1 teaspoons of cut sage to one cup of boiling water.  Steep for 10 minutes.  Strain.  Enjoy.

References:

1.    Tildesley, NT, et al. Salvia lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) enhances memory in healthy young volunteers,Pharmacol Biochem Behav, . 2003 Jun;75(3):669-74.
2.    Tildesley, NT, et al., Positive modulation of mood and cognitive performance following administration of acute doses of Salvia lavandulaefolia essential oil to healthy young volunteers, Physiol Behav. 2005 Jan 17;83(5):699-709
3.    Iuvone, T et al.,The spice sage and its active ingredient rosmarinic acid protect PC12 cells from amyloid-beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 Jun;317(3):1143-9. Epub 2006 Feb 22.
4.    Akhondzadah, S., et al, Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial, J Clin Pharma Ther, 2003, Feb.281):53-39.
5.    Iuvone, T et al.,The spice sage and its active ingredient rosmarinic acid protect PC12 cells from amyloid-beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 Jun;317(3):1143-9.\
6.    Kwon, YI, et al., Evaluation of clonal herbs of Lamiaceae species for management of diabetes and hypertension, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2006;15(1):107-18.
7.    Rau, O., et al., Carnosic acid and carnosol, phenolic diterpene compounds of the labiate herbs rosemary and sage, are activators of the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.. Planta Med. 2006 Aug;72(10):881-7. Epub 2006 Jul
8.    Christensen, K.B., et al., Activation of the nuclear receptor PPARgamma by metabolites isolated from sage (Salvia officinalis L.). J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Aug 7.
9.    Dearlove, RP, et al., Inhibition of protein glycation by extracts of culinary herbs and spices. J Med Food. 2008 Jun;11(2):275-81.