The quantitative and qualitative analysis of essential oils obtained from Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) cultivated in Romania is reported in this paper.
Material and methods: The essential oils were obtained from fresh and dried material harvested from plants cultivated in Cluj (Romania) and from 2 commercial samples, by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analysed by GS-MS.
Results: 12 compounds were found in each oil, 9 of them being common in all samples. The alpha-thujone was the major compound in all analysed oils (31.23-52.86%), followed by camphor and viridiflorol. Chemically, the oxygenated monoterpenes are present in highest quantity (49.78-79.2%).
Conclusions: The monoterpenoid ketones' presence (á-thujone, â-thujone, camphor) in high amounts in the essential oils of Romanian sage may develop toxicity for these products and may limit their medicinal use.