The genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae), commonly known as sage, includes over 1000 species distributed across the world. These species are mainly shrubby and odorous perennial plants that are grown in America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and tropical Africa (Figure 18.1). In Mexico, approximately 300 species have been recorded. Therefore, Mexico is considered the host of the greatest diversity regarding the genus Salvia. After Mexico, Turkey has a high diversity of Salvia plants with more than 100 reported species, followed by China (about 84) and Iran (about 62). Since ancient times, Salvia species have been used not only for therapeutic approaches but also for use in the food industry especially as a spice to flavor meats like pork, sausage, and poultry (Hafez Ghoran et al. 2022; Wu et al. 2012). In addition to S. officinalis L., which is used in the Middle East traditional and commercial products, there are some other important Salvia plants that are of particular interest in folk medicine and pharmacological attitudes, including S. aegyptiaca L., S. aethiopis L., S. fruticosa Mill., S. hydrangea DC. Ex Benth., S. indica L., S. libanotica Boiss. & Gaill, and S. reuterana Boiss. (Kintzios 2000). Sage plants have been used by local people of the Middle East to treat common human disorders/symptoms such as gastrointestinal disorders (abdominal pain, colic, indigestion, and diarrhea); respiratory dysfunctions (cough, colds, and sore throat); infection disorders (bacterial, parasitic, tuberculosis, and influenza); pain (headache and stomachache); and miscellaneous complications (liver diseases, diabetes, barrenness, and hemorrhage). This chapter explores current knowledge of traditional and ethnopharmacological uses of sage plants in the Middle East.
