ABSTRACT
 
Salvia plants become more popular due to their health-promoting and antioxidant potential. The present study aimed to investigate the safety limit of Salvia officinalis terpenoids-rich fraction in Wistar rats. Thirty adult female rats were divided equally into three groups. The first one was control. The second and third groups received Salvia fraction as a single oral dose of 2 and 3 g/kg b.w., respectively. During the experimental period, any abnormal clinical signs, morbidity and mortality rates, as well as weekly body weight gain were recorded. At the end of the experiment, behavior tests were performed and blood specimens were collected for hematological and biochemical examinations. The liver and kidney were collected for histopathology. There were no abnormal variations in clinical signs or weight gain at both doses. Salvia fraction at both doses had a distinct anxiolytic effect; however, it improved working memory only at the 2 g/kg b.w. group. There was an increment in locomotor activity in rats receiving 3 g/kg b.w. For hematology and clinical biochemistry, there was mild leucopenia accompanied by absolute lymphopenia and a decrease in ALT and AST activities in rats receiving 3 g/kg b.w. of Salvia fraction, besides no significant change in urea and creatinine in both treated groups. In conclusion, the Salvia officinalis terpenoids-rich fraction appears to have no adverse toxic effects, except for minimal alterations in leucogram, liver enzymes, and hepatic and renal tissues induced in rats treated with 3 g/kg b.w, of the Salvia fraction.
 
Key words: Salvia officinalis, terpenoids, safety, rats.