Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: Woodland sage - Salvia nemorosa L.

Botanical Description
Woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family. It grows to a height of (20) 30–60 (115) cm and has a branching, upright stem covered with soft hairs. The leaves are arranged oppositely, oblong-ovate, with a slightly heart-shaped, lobed base. The leaf margins are serrated, and the leaf tips are pointed. The undersides of the leaves are covered with woolly hairs, while the upper surfaces are wrinkled and nearly hairless. The plant is dotted with glands that release a pleasant aromatic scent when crushed.

The inflorescence consists of up to 20 whorls arranged along a 10–20 cm flower stalk. Each whorl contains 2–6 densely packed flowers. The bracts at the base of the flowers are the same length as the calyx and contain anthocyanins. The bilabiate flowers are up to 1 cm long, with the calyx forming a 6–8 mm tube covered in hairs. The corolla is blue, 9–12 mm long, with the upper lip divided into three lobes. The corolla tube is not longer than the calyx. The plant blooms from June to August, sometimes as early as May or as late as September.

Distribution
Woodland sage is native to Central Europe and Western Asia. [1] In Estonia, it is rare and grows as an introduced species along railways and in fields. [3]

Effects and Uses
In Turkish folk medicine, woodland sage has been used externally to stop bleeding. In Bulgaria, it has been used to treat abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding, and swellings. [1]

The plant contains bioactive compounds such as caffeic acid, luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide, and rosmarinic acid. [2] It exhibits antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzyme-inhibiting properties. [1] Its aromatic compounds are used in the cosmetic and perfume industries. [2]

Woodland sage is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens, parks, and urban landscaping. However, only garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is used as a medicinal plant. [3]

References
1. Bahadori, M. B., et al. (2017). Salvia nemorosa L.: A novel source of bioactive agents with functional connections. LWT, 75, 42–50. DOI:10.1016/J.LWT.2016.08.048.
2. Ivanov, M., et al. (2022). Bioactivities of Salvia nemorosa L. inflorescences are influenced by the extraction solvents. Industrial Crops and Products, 175, 114260. DOI:10.1016/J.INDCROP.2021.114260.
3. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus.

Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Iminõgeselaadsed (Lamiales)
Sugukond: Huulõielised (Lamiaceae)
Perekond: Salvei (Salvia)
Liik: Metssalvei - Salvia nemorosa L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Metssalvei on mitmeaastane rohttaim huulõieliste sugukonnast, perekonnast salvei. Taim kasvab (20) 30-60 (115) cm kõrguseks. Taimel on harunev püstine vars, mis on pealt pehmekarvane. Leheseis on vastak. Lehed on piklikmunajad, aluselt sisselõikega, peaaegu südajad. Leheserv on saagjas, lehe tipp terav. Lehelaba on alt viltjate karvadega kaetud, pealt on see kortsuline ja peaaegu paljas. Taim on kaetud näärmetega, mistõttu eritub selle muljumisel iseloomulikku meeldivat aroomi. 10-20 cm pikkusel õisikuvarrel on kuni 20 ümber varre paiknevat männasjat õisikut, igas männases on 2-6 tihedalt paiknevat õit. Õite alusel paiknevad  antotsüaniine sisaldavad kandelehed, mis on tupplehtedega sama pikad. Õied on kuni 1 cm pikkused, huuljad. [3] Tupplehed karvased ja moodustavad 6–8 mm pikkuse putke. Õiekrooni ülemine huul on 3-hõlmakesega; õiekroon on sinine, 9–12 mm pikk, krooniputk ei ole pikem kui tupp. Õitseb üldjuhul juunist kuni augustini, harvem mais ja septembris. 

Levila
Metssalvei kasvab Kesk-Euroopas ja Lääne-Aasias. [1]. Eestis on taim haruldane, kasvab tulnukana raudteedel ja põldudel. [3]

Toime ja kasutamine
Metssalveid on kasutatud Türgi rahvameditsiinis väliselt verejooksu peatamiseks. Bulgaarias on teda kasutatud peamiselt kõhuvalu, kõhulahtisuse, verejooksude ja paisete raviks. [1] Taime keemilises koostises leidub kofeiinhapet, luteoliin-7-O-β-d-glükuroniidi, apigeniin-7-O-β-d-glükuroniidi ja rosmariinhapet. [2]. Metssalveil on antibakteriaalne, antioksüdante ja teatud ensüüme inhibeeriv toime. [1] Taime aromaatseteid ühendeid kasutatakse kosmeetikatööstuses ja parfümeerias. [2] Teda kasvatatakse dekoratiivtaimedena aedades, parkides ja linnahaljastuses. Ravimtaimena kasutatakse salvei perekonnas vaid aedsalveid (salvia officinalis). [3]

Kasutatud allikad
1. Bahadori, M. B., Asghari, B., Dinparast, L., Zengin, G., Sarikurkcu, C., Abbas-Mohammadi, M., & Bahadori, S. (2017). Salvia nemorosa L.: A novel source of bioactive agents with functional connections. LWT, 75, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LWT.2016.08.048
2. Ivanov, M., Božunović, J., Gašić, U., Drakulić, D., Stevanović, M., Rajčević, N., & Stojković, D. (2022). Bioactivities of Salvia nemorosa L. inflorescences are influenced by the extraction solvents. Industrial Crops and Products, 175, 114260. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.INDCROP.2021.114260
3. Raal, A. (2010). Maailma ravimtaimede entsüklopeedia. Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus.