Essential oil variation of salvia officinalis (l.), grown on heavy metals polluted soil

Abstract

Two months-old sage seedlings were grown during 10 weeks on the soil/sand substrate in the ratio 3:1. The soil was collected from the vicinities of a Non-Ferrous Metals Combine near Plovdiv with pH (H2O)–7.35 and the following content of heavy metals (μg g−1DW): Cd - 9.02±0.98, Cu- 82.10±3.69, Pb- 301.75±21.03, Zn- 641.60±35.89. For the control non-polluted leached cinnamonic forest soil (Chromic Luvisols—FAO) was used. Heavy metal pollution with Cd, Zn and Pb resulted in 15% root dry biomass inhibition and 10% shoot dry biomass inhibition. Cd, Pb and Cu were accumulated previously in the sage roots, while Zn was accumulated both in the roots and shoots. In total, 11 constituents of the sage essential oil were identified and quantified. Because of the shoot dry biomass inhibition percentage of the essential oil yield towards dry biomass increased under conditions of heavy metals pollution. The main compounds in the essential oil that decreased as a result of heavy metals pollution are α-thujon, β-thujon β- cariophyllene and viridoflorol, while camphor, borneol, 1,8-cineole and bornylacetate significantly increased. Observed decrease of the levels of α- and β-thujones and elevated camphor level in the leaves of sage grown on heavy metals polluted soil indicated a deterioration of the essential oil quality. © 2009 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.