Efficacy of some herbal preparations as hepatoprotective agents

In folk medicine, there are many herbal preparations used for their hepatoprotective activities. One of the most common recipes consists of equal parts [w/w] of decoction of [10% concentration]: Peumus boldus [leaves], Cichorium intybus [root] and Nigella sativa [seed] [Recipe 1]. Glycyrrhiza labell rhizome [root] replaced Cichorium intybus in [Recipe 2] or added to the Recipe 2 to form [Recipe 3]. Three groups of normal albino rats were orally administered 1.5 ml / 100 g of Recipe 1 [group 1], Recipe 2 [group 2] or Recipe 3 [group3] and the control group [group 4] was given 1.5 ml/ 100 g distilled water daily for 30 successive days. Results for normal groups of rats revealed that Recipe 1, Recipe 2 and Recipe 3 decreased plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT]: by -6.1, -26.7, -31.5%; ALT: by-3.8,-13.2, 17.6%; AST: by-5.9,-6.8-21.5%; triglycerides: by 1.8, 0, -13%; cholesterol: by -2.4, -1.2, -1.9% and, increased sleeping time: by 0.5, 1.4 and -0.9%, respectively, vs. control values. Second set of experiments, three groups of carbon tetrachloride-hepatic damaged rats were given the three recipes in the same above mentioned oral doses 2 weeks before carbon tetrachloride and continued for another 2 weeks after induction of the hepatic damage. A fourth group received CC14 for 4 weeks and served as control. The results indicated that there were significant decreases in GGT: [-70, -74.5, -82.0%]; ALT: [-30.1, -36.8, - 49.0%]; AST: [-9.9, -33.3, -43.8%]; triglycerides: [-11.8, -10.5, -17.0%]; cholesterol: [-17.4, -16.4, -24.4%] and sleeping time: [-24.0, -25.1, -37.9%], respectively, vs. carbon tetrachloride-hepatic damaged rats. Histopatholgical study revealed that the three recipes exhibited greater hepatoprotective effects in CCl[4]-induced liver injury by preventing development of hepatic lesions, including liver centrilobular inflammation, cell necrosis, fatty change, ballooning degeneration as compared to the 4[th] control group CCl[4]- intoxication. Also there was an improvement of hepatocytes- DNA contents. The modified recipe 3 was found to be more potent than recipe 1 or 2

Screening of some pharmacological properties of Origanum majorana growing in Egypt

In the present study, hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Origanum majorana was prepared. Two oral dose levels [100 and 200 mg/Kg] were evaluated for the analgesic activity [using the hot plate test], the anti-inflammatory effect [using carrageenan-induced paw oedema test] and the antipyretic activity [on yeast-induced hyperthermia] in albino rats. Results revealed that in the hot plate test, O. majorana extract exerted a highly significant analgesic effect in a dose dependant manner similar to that obtained by paracetamol. The extract also reduced paw-oedema caused by carrageenan, this result was more obvious in rats treated with 200 mg/Kg. The tested extract in the two doses used exerted an antipyretic effect after 30 min of administration. More interesting results were observed in the group treated with 200 mg/Kg, in which their temperature was reduced significantly more than in paracetamol-treated group during 1 -2 hr post-drug administration. O. majorana extract also exerted a hepatoprotective effect in carbon tetrachloride liver -damaged rats. Both doses [100 and 200 mg /Kg] significantly reduced the elevated values of liver function tests [GGT, ALT and AST], triglycerides [TGs], and cholesterol. Kidney function tests [creatinine and urea] were also decreased significantly. O. majorana had an immuno-stimulating property, as it increased IgG levels in normal and liver damaged rats. It is concluded that Origanum majorana had many pharmacological activities including a novel immunostimulant effect, which warrants further detailed investigations

Hypoglycemic activity of origanum majorana aqueous extract in alloxan - induced diabetic rats

Origanum majorana L., commonly known in Egypt as "Bardaqoush" was investigated as aqueous extract for its ability to protect liver and kidney cells. 50 mg/100g b.wt. of its aqueous extract for 30 days was found to reduce significantly the blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, AST and creatinine in rats. The presented data also revealed its supportive action on the liver and kidney cells. During last two decades the world sight has been directed towards natural medicine, such as herbal therapy. The reason behind this was the discovery of the dangerous side effects of therapeutic chemical agents. Herbal therapy will be especially favoured in the treatment of diseases with a chronic nature as diabetes, hyperlipdemia and some liver or kidney diseases, to reduce the expected side effects of long periods of treatment by chemical agents. Diabetes milletus represents a very difficult health problem as it affects more than 170 million persons around the world; 7 millions of them are Egyptians [Jouad et [1] Eddouk et al.[2]]. Its complications may extend to affect most of the body systems. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to find out the beneficial effect of the herb Origanum majorana in treatment of this disease. Origanum majorana locally known as "Bardaqoush" is a native plant widely distributed throughout Egypt and grown in summer [Boulos,[3]] and is used as a flavouring agent for foods. Its essential oil is used as antioxidant [Botsoglou,[4]] and as antifungal against Candida albicans [Manohar et al.[5]] The alcoholic extracts are used in pharmaceutical, perfumes and cosmetics [Price,[6]]. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological effect of Origanum majorana on blood glucose level of both normal and alloxan diabetic rats and to investigate some of its biochemical effects on the liver and kidney of diabetic rats