Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Organic and Aqueous Extracts of Northeast Algerian Marrubium vulgare

Abstract

Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) is frequently used in traditional medicine to treat many illnesses from ancient times. Its beneficial effects include antibacterial, antioedematogenic, and analgesic activities. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of organic and aqueous extracts of the leaves, the flowers, the stems, and the roots of Marrubium vulgare. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory effects of methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts have been investigated by using different in-vitro methods. It was found that the ethyl acetate extract from Marrubium vulgare stems had the highest total phenolic content, while the ethyl acetate extract from the leaves yielded a high concentration of flavonoids. The ethyl acetate extract from the stems exhibited the highest activity in scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), as well as in protecting erythrocytes. The leaves aqueous extract exhibited the highest ferrous chelating activity and its methanolic extract was found to be the strongest inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in β-carotene bleaching assay. The leaves chloroform extracts as well as the flowers methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts were found to decrease the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) cytokine levels in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the flowers methanolic extract and the leaves methanol, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts decreased the interleukin-1 beta (IL- 1β) release. It was also found that the methanol extract from the flowers and the chloroform extract from the stems of Marrubium vulgare inhibited interleukin-8 (IL-8) release. This study provides a scientific basis for the traditional use of Marrubium vulgare as an anti-inflammatory agent and for the plant to be considered as an important resource of natural antioxidants.

Phytochemical study and antimicrobial activity of Algerian Marrubium vulgare leaf and stem extracts

“…Yields of extraction and the amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids in different extracts of Marrubium vulgare are presented on table 1. These results are concordant with those of M. vulgare harvested from Bordj Bouariridj region 20 except for the flavonoid content of stems extract which is higher (11.72 versus 5.21 mg QE/g). It was aimed in this work to identify some of the phenolic compounds present in the methanolic extracts of M. vulgare using HPLC which is a high-resolution chromatographic technique probably the most widely used analytical technique for characterizing the polyphenolic compound 23 .…”

“…In fact, the plant is reported to possess antihypertensive 16 , vasorelaxant 17 , hepatoprotective 18 and antibacterial 19 properties. We have previously demonstrated that M. vulgare extracts exhibit antioxidant activities by their ability to scavenge free radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation and chelate metals 20 . Furthermore, our results indicate that this plant has powerful effects in the inhibition of the release of inflammatory mediators anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-ɑ, IL-1β and IL-8.…”

Tunisian Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) Aqueous Extract Improves Treatment of Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis in Rat

“…Also, the number of total cells counted in the Balf was considerably increased in the Mae group, suggesting the implication of this remedy in the inhibition or suppression of inflammatory factors and by preserving almost all the cells of the alveolar-capillary wall and the alveolar lumen. 31 These results were confirmed by those of the histological study which showed histopathologic changes representing the most specific and characteristic variables accompanying pulmonary fibrosis. In this context, the microscopic observations following the HE and TR staining showed an enormous arrangement of collagen especially at the level of the alveolar septum, inflammatory infiltrate, and histiocytes in the BLM group.…”

“…Moreover, the choice of Mae is based above all on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects played by the high content of total polyphenols (73.619 mg EGA/g extract compared to other horehound extracts of different origins: Serbia; 54.65 ± .87; 29 Morocco; 5,45 ± 0,08, 30 and Algeria; 48.62 ± 1.73 31 ).…”

“…Also, the number of total cells counted in the Balf was considerably increased in the Mae group, suggesting the implication of this remedy in the inhibition or suppression of inflammatory factors and by preserving almost all the cells of the alveolar–capillary wall and the alveolar lumen. 31 …”