AGRONOMIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF SALVIA SCLAREA L. SICILIAN

Salvia sclarea L. is a biennial xerophyte belonging to the Lamiaceae family, one of the most abundant plant families of the Mediterranean flora. Many of the Mediterranean's medicinal and aromatic plants belong to this family. It is typically found in the Mediterranean Basin of Europe and Africa as far as the Atlantic Ocean, and is cultivated for its essential oil (EO) in France, Bulgaria, Russia, USA, and China. The EO is highly valued in the cosmetics and food industries. It was traditionally used for medicinal purposes and has shown clear antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-depressive and insecticide properties.