Antioxidant action of extract of the traditional medicinal plant Rhazya stricta Decne. in rats

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2000-09, Vol.14 (6), p.469-471
• Main Authors: Ali, B. H., Alqarawi, A. A., Bashir, A. K., Tanira, M. O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; ascorbic acid; Ascorbic Acid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; glutathione; Glutathione - metabolism; Kidney - drug effects; lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liver - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Traditional; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rhazya stricta; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/1099-1573(200009)14:6<469::AID-PTR612>3.0.CO;2-W

The effects of a leaf extract of the traditional medicinal plant Rhazya stricta (0.25, 1.0 and 4.0 g/kg/day for 3 days) on reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LP) and ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in the liver and kidneys were studied in rats 24 h after the last dose. The plant extract, at a dose of 0.25 g/kg, did not significantly affect the concentrations of GSH, LP or AA in the liver or kidneys. At a dose of 1.0 g/kg, the plant extract significantly increased the GSH concentration in the liver, but did not affect the GSH concentration in the kidneys, or LP or AA in the liver or kidneys. The plant extract (4.0 g/kg) significantly increased the GSH and decreased LP peroxidation, but did not affect the AA concentrations in the liver and kidneys. It may be concluded that the R. stricta extract, at some of the doses used, has antioxidant actions in the rat. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.