Mint Extract Present Antioxidant Action on the Erythrocytes of Dairy Cows Suffering from Mastitis?

Abstract

Bovine Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands that represents important economic losses in milk production. As in other pathologies, medicinal plants emerged as an important alternative for treatment of this condition. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of the extract of Mentha arvensis L. on the erythrocytes of healthy dairy cows (P1); of dairy cows with mastitis without previous treatment (P2); and of dairy cows with mastitis and previously treated with antibiotics (P3). The levels of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), of the protein carbonylation (PC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were analyzed in the cows’ erythrocytes before and after treatment with the extract of Mentha. This study demonstrated an occurrence of oxidative stress in the cows with mastitis. The mint extract promoted an increase in GSH levels combined with a decrease in the levels of oxidative markers, especially in cows with mastitis without previous antibiotic treatment.