LC-MS/MS techniques were applied to analyze, quali- and quantitatively, a phenol extract from leaves of Salvia officinalis, cultivated in the Campania Region (Italy). It accounted for similar to 50% of abietane diterpenes, similar to 40% of phenylpropanoid constituents, and 10% flavonoids, and so called SoA541. Lignin oligomers were detected for the first time as sage constituents. SoA541 exerted anti-lipoperoxidative and antioxidant properties at dose levels <125 mu g/mL on SH-SY5Y cells, and its ability to inhibit the AChE enzyme was far greater than donepezil. The anti-AChE effectiveness was dose-dependent up to a maximum (62.5 mu g/mL), beyond which the effect decreased. The data obtained encourage further research aimed at evaluating a potential use of the "Campania" sage in the prevention of CNS diseases in animal models. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.