Sage (Salvia spp.) as a multi-target resource for healthy aging: Current evidence and perspectives

Aging is driven by interacting processes, including oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, cellular senescence, and dysregulated tissue remodeling. Salvia (sage) is the largest genus in the Lamiaceae and is widely used in traditional medicine, foods, and topical preparations, with pronounced chemodiversity across essential oils and polar extracts. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the anti-aging potential of eight selected Salvia species (S. officinalis, S. yangii, S. sahendica, S. miltiorrhiza, S. hispanica, S. haenkei, S. verticillata, and S. haematodes) by examining their effects on key aging-related mechanisms. Across species, Salvia preparations repeatedly show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in chemical and cellular systems, with select studies demonstrating protection in UVB/photoaging models. Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects are reported for specific extracts and essential oils. Senescence-linked activity is most consistently supported for S. haenkei, including in vivo evidence with a standardized preparation. Fibrosis- and sarcopenia-relevant outcomes are emerging, mainly from disease-driven remodeling or metabolic models. Human evidence remains limited but includes topical studies assessing UV erythema and wrinkle-related parameters. Salvia species provide multi-target bioactivities relevant to aging biology; however, variability in extract composition, incomplete standardization, and scarce controlled human data limit cross-study comparability. Future work should prioritize standardized preparations and robust clinical designs.