The herb sage (Salvia officinalis) originates from the Mediterranean region, and is renowned for its supposed therapeutic properties in the treatment of digestive problems, bacterial and fungal infections, as well as a memory-enhancing agent.
Sage contains the antioxidants carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. These compounds are thought to protect the brain from oxidative damage. Since the latter is involved in the degeneration of brain cells typically observed in dementia, it has been suggested that sage might also help prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders.
Effects of Sage on Memory and Alzheimer's Progression
What is the evidence supporting this claim? In 2006, a study in the journal Nutrition showed that rats injected with sage leaf extract were significantly better able to retain memory. Subsequent research, published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, demonstrated that, in cultures of rat brain cells, both rosmarinic acid and sage leaf extract reduced cell death caused by Ab42–the main component of the plaques and tangles found in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.
These findings seem to corroborate the hypothesis that sage might enhance memory and slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The problem is they come from studies conducted in animals and animals’ brain cells. This means that, even if confirmed by other research, these findings might not be relevant to humans.
Effects of Sage on Alzheimer's-related Cognitive Impairment
Researchers of Tehran University Medical Center believe they have addressed this issue. Dr. Shahin Akhondzadeh and colleagues randomly assigned 42 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease to receive a daily dose of sage leaf extract or placebo for four months. At the end of the study, whose results appear in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, patients in the sage group showed statistically significantly better cognitive performance, and lower agitation levels, than the placebo group.
The Efficacy of Sage in Alzheimer's Remains Uncertain
So, can the herb sage prevent Alzheimer’s, or alleviate its symptoms? Although promising, the evidence so far is too limited and weak, in that it mostly comes from animal studies. Therefore, no firm conclusion can be drawn about whether or not sage can help in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. More research is needed.
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References:
Akhondzadeh S., Noroozian M., Mohammadi M., Ohadinia S., Jamshidi A.H., Khani M. “Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial,” Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, February 2003, 28(1):53-9.
Baskan S., Oztekin N., Erim B. “Determination of carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid in sage by capillary electrophoresis,” Food Chemistry, October 15, 2007,101(4): 1748-52.
Bratman S. Complementary & Alternative Health, Collins, 2007.
Eidi M., Eidi A., Bahar M. “Effects of Salvia officinalis L. (sage) leaves on memory retention and its interaction with the cholinergic system in rats,” Nutrition, March 2006, 3(22):321-26.
Iuvone T., De Filippis D., Esposito G., D’Amico A., Izzo A.A. “The spice sage and its active ingredient rosmarinic acid protect PC12 cells from Amylois-beta peptide-induced neurotoxicity,” Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, February 22, 2006, 317(3):1143-9.
Satoh T., Kosaka K., Itoh K., Kobayashi A., Yamamoto M., Shimoto Y., Kitajima C., Cui J., Kamins J., Okamoto S., Izumi M., Shirasawa T., Lipton S.A. “Carnosic acid, a catechol-type electrolphilic compound, protects neurons both in vitro and in vivo through the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway via S-alkylation of targeted cysteines on Keap1,” Journal of Neurochemistry, February 2008, 104(4):1116-31.
Lorena Tonarelli - Internationally published healthcare journalist, medical writer, author and editor.
