Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Salvia virgata mericarps

The phytochemical contents of Salvia virgata mericarps and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of its ethanol extract were studied for the first time. S. virgata mericarps were collected in the province of Trabzon, Turkey. Chemical analyses were performed using chromatographic methods. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant potential were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu, Al(NO3)(3), and DPPH radical scavenging activity methods, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the microdilution method for all the tested bacterial and fungal strains, with the exception of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for which the resazurin microtiter plate method was applied. The mericarps were rich in glutamic acid (3934 mg/100 g), potassium (12578.8 mu g/g), calcium (12092.0 mu g/g), and dietary fibers (35.565 g/100 g). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 2.50 mu g GAE/mg extract and 0.34 mu g QE/mg extract, respectively. The most effective DPPH free radical scavenging activity determined for the highest applied concentration was 92.44%. The ethanol extract obtained from the mericarps was found to be as effective as the reference drug ampicillin (MIC value = 125 mu g/mL) against the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. In conclusion, S. virgata mericarps provide good nutritional value with low amounts of carbohydrates and high dietary fibers, amino acids, minerals and total phenolic and flavonoid contents and medicinal properties.