In-vivo Antioxidant Effects of the Orally Administered Paracetamol, Aqueous Extracts of Saliva triloba, and Origanum syriacum

Nessrin Ghazi Alabdallat*

Abstract

The plant extracts are found to be effective against oxidative stress. There are lots of reasons for increased oxidative stress in which environmental factors and life style play a big role. In this study the herbal extracts of Saliva triloba, and Origanum syriacum used to study antioxidant properties compared to paracetamol. A total of 27 volunteers were divided into 3 groups, 2 groups took 250 ml of aqueous extract of S. triloba, and O. syriacum for 5 days and 3^rd group took paracetamol 500 mg, each tablet twice a day for five days. Blood specimens were collected before taking extract and one hour after taking the first dose at day one and one day after the last dose. Serum Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in RBCs were tested. The oral intake of aqueous extract of the plants for five days increased serum TAS and GSH in RBCs compared to zero time of intake. In addition, oral intake of aqueous extracts of Saliva triloba for five days increased significantly, P value ≤ 0.05 the activity of SOD in RBCs as compared to zero time of administration. The herbs extracts of Saliva triloba and Origanum syriacum have anti-oxidant property compared to paracetamol, so as medicinal herbs with antioxidant effects can inhibit produced oxidative effects.

Keywords: Antioxidant status, Malondialdehyde, Reduced glutathione, Superoxide dismutase

Introduction

There are lots of reasons for increased oxidative stress in which environmental factors and life style play a big role. Antioxidants can stop the harmful consequences of oxidative stress on human health (Valko et al., 2006; 2007).

Medicinal plants are potential sources of natural antioxidants (AS et al., 2020). Natural antioxidants can inhibit the oxidative damages through metal chelating properties and scavenging activity of free radicals (Soobrattee et al., 2005); in addition, plant extracts are effective against oxidative stress.

Salvia triloba and Origanum syriacum are the most popular medicinal plants in Lebanon and Jordan that has been commonly used for medical purposes (Barakat & Fatima, 2000).

Saliva triloba, belongs to the Lamiaceae family, commonly referred to as Greek sage, the Arabic Name of Salvia triloba is Meramiyyh. It is commonly used to treat gastric disorders, bloating, infections of the mouth, gums, and teeth, stomach discomfort, headaches, common cold, cough, and influenza (Barakat & Fatima, 2000). Saliva triloba extracts have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities (Kamatou et al., 2005; 2007; 2008; 2010; Añides et al., 2019).

Origanum syriacum L. (Lamiaceae), is often known as white oregano and/or Syrian oregano, and its Arabic name is za'atar (Seidemann, 2005). Previous studies have reported its acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity (Loizzo et al., 2009, Zein et al., 2011); antifungal agent detection (Abou-Jawdah, 2004; Kintzios, 2004); antibacterial activity (Kintzios, 2004; Peña et al., 2019) analgesic activity, expectorant, antirheumatic, sedative, anthelmintic and antiparasitic activities (Zein et al., 2011).

All over the world, paracetamol is an analgesic and antipyretic drug, and single-component and multi-component preparations can be obtained without a doctor's prescription.

In vitro antioxidant properties of Salvia triloba and Origanum syriacum extracts were previously evaluated (Bilto et al., 2015c). This study proposed to see the antioxidants in vivo effects of the orally intake of aqueous extracts of S. triloba (leaves), O. syriacum (leaves), and Paracetamol.

Materials and Methods

Plant Material

Plant materials: Meramiyyh (leaves), oregano (leaves) were bought from an herbal shop in Madaba city. The herbs are selected according to its wide use as a traditional medicine.

Formation of Aqueous Extracts

250 gram of S. triloba, O. syriacum dried and was boiled in 11.250 Liter water for 15 min, and left dousing for 4 hours at 25 °C. Then the aqueous extract was packed in tidy bottles with a capacity of 1.250 L.

Blood Samples

27 participants were divided into three groups of nine persons, and their demographic data is presented in Table 1. The two groups drank 250 ml of water extracts of selected medicinal plants (Meramiyyh, Oregano) 3 for 5 days and the third group took paracetamol (500 mg, each tablet twice a day) for 5 days.

Three blood samples were collected (one before taking water extract, one after 1^st dosage taking water extract on day one, and one day after the last dose) in the gel clot activator tube. To separate and collect the serum, the gel tube was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes at 25°C. Then, 2 ml of deionized water was added to the cells in the tube under the gel, the tube was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min, and the supernatant was collected. For further testing, all specimens were stored at -20 °C.

Table 1. Demographic Data of the Participants

Serum TAS Assay

TAS analysis of serum was performed using Randox TAS kit. The data is expressed in millimoles/Liter.

MDA Activity in RBC

MDA was measured as a marker of lipid peroxidation using Dormandy's technique (1971) and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) with minor modifications. All MDA values were shown in nmol/gHb units.

GSH Activity in RBC

Ellman's technique was slightly modified to analyze red blood cell GSH (Ellman, 1951). All GSH values ​​are expressed in mg/gHb.

SOD Activity in RBC

SOD levels were measured using a Randox kit. The outcomes were displayed as U/gHb.

Statistical Analysis

Mean and standard deviation were analyzed using SPSS software, version.17 to evaluate test data.

Results and Discussion

In vivo study showed that oral intake of S. triloba and O. syriacum increased serum TAS after 5^th day of extract intake. Paracetamol did not affect serum total antioxidant capacity (Table 2).

Oral administration of S. triloba and O. syriacum also resulted in an increase in GSH in RBCs at 5^th day of extract intake. Paracetamol had no effect on GSH in RBCs (Table 3). However, SOD in RBCs increased considerably after five days of oral intake of S. triloba extract in comparison to 0 time of intake, whereas, O. syriacum and Pracetamol did not increase erythrocyte activity of superoxide dismutase (Table 4).

Saliva triloba, Origanum syriacum and Paracetamol did not decrease erythrocyte content of MDA after five days of administration (Table 5).

Table 2. TAS Before and After Oral Intake of the Studied Herbs

* Each statistic reflects the mean± S.D., (n =9), with a *P value of ≤ 0.05 when in comparison to the 0 time administration.

Table 3. GSH Measured in mg/g Hb Before and After Oral Intake of Studied Herbs

* Each statistic reflects the mean ± standard deviation (n =9), with a *P value of ≤ 0.05 in comparison to the 0 time administration.

Table 4. SOD Measured in U/gHb Before and After Oral Intake of Studied Herbs

* Each statistic reflects the mean± standard deviation (n =8), with a *P value ≤ 0.05 in comparison to the 0 time administration.

Table 5. MDA Measured in nmol//g Hb Before and After Oral Intake of Studied Herbs

* Each number reflects the mean ± standard deviation (n =9).

Oral intake of aqueous extracts of S. triloba and O. syriacum enhanced the serum TAS after five days of intake. This conclusion is supported with the results of other studies (Bilto & Alabdallat, 2015a; 2015b; Alabdallat, 2016; 2021). Our present study also presented that the plants increased GSH content of RBC after five days of intake. This conclusion is consistent with the results of other studies (Bilto & Alabdallat, 2015a; 2015b; Alabdallat, 2016; 2021) and (El-Dakhakhny et al., 2000; Ali, 2004; Kaleem, et al., 2006; EL-shenawy et al., 2008; Asnani & Verma, 2009) who showed that oral treatment of ginger or nigella extract increased GSH or TAS in kidney and liver tissues of rats and mice. However, the results also indicated that SOD content of RBC increased after five days of Saliva triloba intake as also reported in studies of (Bilto & Alabdallat, 2015a; 2015b; Alabdallat, 2021) and (Ajith et al., 2007; Bakirel et al., 2008; Asnani & Verma, 2009). They demonstrated that oral rosemary or ginger extract can significantly enhance Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity in mouse liver or diabetic rabbit serum. The current investigation also found that the tested plants did not reduce the red blood cell content of MDA after five days of treatment. This conclusion is supported the results of similar studies.

Conclusion

As our findings are based on volunteers with no history of oxidative stress, we can suggest the use of herbal extracts of plants like Saliva triloba, Origanum syriacum as medicinal herbs with antioxidant effects can improve the basal defense mechanism for oxidative stress, and this may help in decreasing oxidative stress related disease.

Acknowledgments: The author would like to thank Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University for supporting this work under Project Number R-2021-176.

Conflict of interest: None

Financial support: This study was funded by the deanship of scientific research, Majmaah University, Research Project Number (R-2021-176).

Ethics statement: This research was approved by the Jordan University Committee and therefore meets the ethical standards mentioned in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. Before participating in the study, each individual provided informed permission.

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