Salvira™ Does Not Modulate Estrogen Receptor: Reassessing Salvia officinalis Proposed Phytoestrogenic Properties
4 affiliations
- 1S&R Farmaceutici SpA, 06083 Bastia Umbra, Italy
- 2Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via 8 Archirafi 30, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- 3Technology Scientific S.r.l., Via del Quarnaro 14, 90144 Palermo, Italy
- 4Dephi STARLab, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Salvia officinalis L. is widely used in food supplements, particularly those intended to support women’s health and alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms. However, the extent to which estrogen receptor signaling contributes to its reported clinical benefits remains unclear. Therefore, evaluating its potential endocrine activity is a key aspect of its toxicological characterization and overall safety assessment. The present study aimed to investigate the potential estrogenic effects of a standardized Italian Salvia officinalis L. extract (Salvira™), as well as its biological effects on estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Methods: In vitro enzymatic assays and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) agonist- and antagonist-mode experiments were performed to assess its ability to modulate ERα signaling. Moreover, cell viability, proliferation, and clonogenic capacity were assessed in MCF-7 cells following exposure to increasing concentrations of the extract. Results: The extract did not exhibit estrogenic activity in all experimental dose–response assays. In MCF-7 cells, treatment with the sage extract did not produce an overall effect on cell viability or proliferative capacity. Moreover, no impairment of long-term clonogenic potential was observed at the tested concentrations. Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions investigated, the present findings suggest that the standardized Salvia officinalis L. extract showed no evidence of estrogenic activity and did not induce relevant ERα-mediated biological effects in estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cells. These findings contribute to the characterization of the endocrine safety profile of the extract, supporting its safe use as an ingredient in food supplements.
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BibTeX
@article{iannitti2026salvira,
title = {{Salvira™ Does Not Modulate Estrogen Receptor: Reassessing Salvia officinalis Proposed Phytoestrogenic Properties}},
author = {Rossana Iannitti and Giada Ceccarelli and Valentina Melfi and Mariano Licciardi and Francesco Montalbano and Desirée Bartolini and Elisa Menicali and Alice Coletti and Chiara Pennetta},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213497},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3497},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Salvira™ Does Not Modulate Estrogen Receptor: Reassessing Salvia officinalis Proposed Phytoestrogenic Properties
AU - Rossana Iannitti
AU - Giada Ceccarelli
AU - Valentina Melfi
AU - Mariano Licciardi
AU - Francesco Montalbano
AU - Desirée Bartolini
AU - Elisa Menicali
AU - Alice Coletti
AU - Chiara Pennetta
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213497
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3497
AB - Background/Objectives: Salvia officinalis L. is widely used in food supplements, particularly those intended to support women’s health and alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms. However, the extent to which estrogen receptor signaling contributes to its reported clinical benefits remains unclear. Therefore, evaluating its potential endocrine activity is a key aspect of its toxicological characterization and overall safety assessment. The present study aimed to investigate the potential estrogenic effects of a standardized Italian Salvia officinalis L. extract (Salvira™), as well as its biological effects on estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Methods: In vitro enzymatic assays and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) agonist- and antagonist-mode experiments were performed to assess its ability to modulate ERα signaling. Moreover, cell viability, proliferation, and clonogenic capacity were assessed in MCF-7 cells following exposure to increasing concentrations of the extract. Results: The extract did not exhibit estrogenic activity in all experimental dose–response assays. In MCF-7 cells, treatment with the sage extract did not produce an overall effect on cell viability or proliferative capacity. Moreover, no impairment of long-term clonogenic potential was observed at the tested concentrations. Conclusions: Under the experimental conditions investigated, the present findings suggest that the standardized Salvia officinalis L. extract showed no evidence of estrogenic activity and did not induce relevant ERα-mediated biological effects in estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cells. These findings contribute to the characterization of the endocrine safety profile of the extract, supporting its safe use as an ingredient in food supplements.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -