Wild specimens of Salvia L. were collected in three different moments of anthesis and their volatile leaf oils were analyzed by GC/GCMS. The quantitative terpene composition is very variable with the anthesis. S. bertolonii is the richest species in a-thujone. S. officinalis is characterized by high percentages of 1,8 cineole, 4-terpineol, isorboneol and a -bisabolol. In S. verticillata high percentages of borneol and {3-cariophyllene are present. In the three species a-thujone was always more abundant than ß-thujone. The three taxa are characterized by peculiar combinations of terpenoids. The multivariate analysis of the chemical data indicates the degree of affinity between the three taxa and their chemotaxonomical status. Some components of Salvia essential oil have pharmaceutical activities.
