Aivana
Salvia officinalis L.
Aivana (Salvia officinalis L.) is a plant drug, from the Lamiaceae family. Listed in European Pharmacopoeia; referenced in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy; ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) monograph available for dyspeptic complaints and excessive sweating.
| Botanical name | Salvia officinalis L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Lamiaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in European Pharmacopoeia; referenced in WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy; ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) monograph available for dyspeptic complaints and excessive sweating |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2927004 · Wikidata Q1111359 · NCBI Taxonomy 38868 |
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2025, every one with a DOI.
- 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 9Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Sage (common sage) |
| Latin/Botanical | Salvia officinalis L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Rosmarinic acid
- Ursolic acid
- Alpha-thujone
- Beta-thujone
- 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol)
- Camphor
- Luteolin
- Salvianolic acids A and B
- Hispidulin
- Viridiflorol
How does it work?
- Rosmarinic acid downregulates COX-2 expression and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6) in cell models, exerting potent anti-inflammatory effects
- Ursolic acid inhibits NF-kB pathway activation and demonstrates antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial membrane integrity against Staphylococcus aureus
- Luteolin and hispidulin provide neuroprotective effects by scavenging free radicals in neural tissues and modulating GABA receptor activity for anxiolytic effects
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Placebo-controlled clinical studies in elderly subjects have reported improved immediate and delayed recall.
- Traditionally used for throat infections and wounds. In vitro studies have reported antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens and pathogens linked to skin infections.
- Traditionally used in Ayurvedic and European practice for metabolic disorders. Preclinical studies have reported hypoglycemic effects.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Thujone content in sage essential oil (alpha- and beta-thujone) is neurotoxic at high doses; prolonged use of essential oil not recommended
- Sage tea and aqueous extracts considered safe at normal culinary and therapeutic doses; no significant adverse effects reported in clinical trials at 600 mg/day for 16 weeks
- Contraindicated in pregnancy (uterotonic effects) and during lactation (may reduce milk production); caution with epilepsy medications due to potential thujone interactions
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Cineole
- Camphor
- Luteolin
- Hispidulin
- Viridiflorol
- Rosmarinic acid
- Ursolic acid
- Alpha-thujone
- Beta-thujone
- Salvianolic acids A and B
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Kwatha (concentrated decoction), Lepa (paste for external use)
Standard Dosage: 2-4g powder twice daily; 30-60ml decoction twice daily
Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for digestive indications
Storage: Cool, dry place below 30°C, protected from direct light and moisture.
Marker Compounds: Total phenolics (Folin-Ciocalteu method), Total flavonoids, TLC fingerprint markers
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1
- 2023. The Effect of Salvia Officinalis on Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisInternational journal of community based nursing and midwifery. PMID 37489230 · doi:10.30476/IJCBNM.2023.97639.2198
Randomised controlled trials2
- 2025. Exploring the therapeutic impact of Salvia officinalis on lipid and oxidative stress markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome - a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trialBMC complementary medicine and therapies. PMID 40141012 · doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04858-2
- 2011. Antihyperlipidemic effects of Salvia officinalis L. leaf extract in patients with hyperlipidemia: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trialPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 21506190 · doi:10.1002/ptr.3506
Laboratory and animal studies9
- 2025. Salvia officinalis L. leaf extracts: Chemical analysis and biological studiesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40571229 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120193
- 2024. Salvia officinalis L. exerts oncostatic effects in rodent and in vitro models of breast carcinomaFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 38464730 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1216199
- 2024. Mentha rotundifolia (L.) Huds. and Salvia officinalis L. hydrosols mitigate aging related comorbidities in ratsFrontiers in aging neuroscience. PMID 38464467 · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2024.1365086
- 2023. Salvia officinalis restores semen quality and testicular functionality in cadmium-intoxicated male ratsScientific reports. PMID 38012170 · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45193-1
- 2023. Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential OilPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37176852 · doi:10.3390/plants12091794
- 2023. Salvia officinalis L. Methanolic Extract Reduces Lead and Nicotine-Induced Sperm Quality Degeneration in Male RatsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 37236909 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.202300115
- 2023. Antilisterial and Antimicrobial Effect of Salvia officinalis Essential Oil in Beef Sous-Vide Meat during StorageFoods (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37297446 · doi:10.3390/foods12112201
- 2022. Hydrosols from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Cupressus sempervirens: Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity EvaluationPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35161330 · doi:10.3390/plants11030349
- 2021. Salvia officinalis and Lippia triphylla: Chemical characterization and evaluation of antidepressant-like activityJournal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. PMID 34153940 · doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114207
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.