The results of the experiments would seem to indicate that the oil
of black sage is composed essentially of camphor (more than 40 per
cent) and cineol (22.5 per cent), with a small quantity of an alcohol,
probably borneol, both free and as an ester, and a small quantity of
the ketone thujone, with traces of the terpenes pinene and terpinene.
Free formic acid was found, and only traces of combined acetic and
formic acids in the form of esters.
The constituents of possible economic importance in the oil are
camphor and cineol, both of which possess considerable medicinal
value, the former being used also very extensively in the arts. These
constituents, possessing strong antiseptic virtues, no doubt impart
antiseptic properties to the oil. Inasmuch as the yield of oil from
the fresh herb approximates 1 per cent, if distilled during the full
flowering stage, and furthermore, since the plant thrives on low sandy
hills or wastes, it is very probable that the shrub could be grown
profitably both for its oil and for the large amount of camphor and
cineol capable of being isolated from it.