Aivana
Salvia officinalis L.
Aivana (Salvia officinalis L.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, 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 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Aivana |
| 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?
- Cognitive enhancement and memory improvement validated through placebo-controlled clinical trials showing improved immediate and delayed recall in elderly subjects
- Antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens and skin infections confirmed through in vitro studies supporting traditional use for throat infections and wound healing
- Hypoglycemic effects validated in preclinical models supporting traditional Ayurvedic/European use for metabolic disorders
What do recent clinical trials show?
3 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. 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; EU regulations limit thujone intake to 6 mg/kg in foodstuffs; 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
- 1
- Salvianolic acids A and B
Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)
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
Bioavailability: Limited modern pharmacokinetic data. Traditional texts recommend administration with warm water or honey to optimize absorption. The herb’s constituents are primarily water-soluble phenolics and glycosides, suggesting reasonable aqueous-phase absorption.
Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for digestive indications
Standardized Extract: Limited standardization data available. TLC/HPTLC fingerprinting recommended for batch-to-batch consistency. Aqueous extract yield typically 8-14%.
Shelf Life: 2 years (powder); 2.5 years (tablets/capsules)
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
Extraction Methods
- Aqueous decoction (1:8, reduced to 1/4)
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (50:50)
- Cold maceration for delicate constituents
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 trials1
Other clinical studies and reviews2
- 2025. Therapeutic Potential of Carnosic Acid in Alopecia: A Mechanistic PerspectivePlanta medica. PMID 40780265 · doi:10.1055/a-2665-2211
- 2022. Neuroprotective Potential of Aromatic Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, and LavenderFrontiers in neuroscience. PMID 35873824 · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.909833
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2025. Salvia officinalis L. leaf extracts: Chemical analysis and biological studiesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40571229 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120193
- 2023. Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential OilPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 37176852 · doi:10.3390/plants12091794
- 2023. Salvia officinalis restores semen quality and testicular functionality in cadmium-intoxicated male ratsScientific reports. PMID 38012170 · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45193-1
- 2022. Salvia officinalis leaf extracts protect against acute colitis in ratsResearch in pharmaceutical sciences. PMID 36034079 · doi:10.4103/1735-5362.350236
- 2022. Anti-Salmonella and Antibiofilm Potency of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil against Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella entericaAntibiotics (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35453243 · doi:10.3390/antibiotics11040489
- 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
- 2020. Chronic Supplementation with a Mix of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia Improves Morris Water Maze Learning in Normal Adult C57Bl/6J MiceNutrients. PMID 32549250 · doi:10.3390/nu12061777
- 2020. Biodistribution of essential oil-conjugated silver nanoparticlesRomanian journal of morphology and embryology = Revue roumaine de morphologie et embryologie. PMID 34171059 · doi:10.47162/RJME.61.4.12
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.
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