Gastroprotective effect and in vitro Antioxidant Activities of the Aqueous Extract from Artemisia absinthium L Aerial Parts

Abstract

Artemisia absinthium L. is a medicinal plant largely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to estimate the content of polyphenols, and flavonoids compounds and also to evaluate the antioxidant and the anti-ulcer activities of the Aqueous extract from Artemisia absinthium L. aerial parts. The Folin-Ciocalteau and AlCl3 methods were applied in order to quantify the polyphenolic and flavonoids contents, respectively. However, DPPH   method was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Quantitative analysis of the yield and phenolic content of the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium showed that the yield of the aqueous extract was 19.32% and its phenolic content was 58.66 ± 2.16 μg GAE / mg dry extract for polyphenols and 6.85 μg QE / mg dry extract for the flavonoids. The antioxidant activity of the plant extract evaluated by the DPPH test is very important (IC50=45.48±0.37 µg/ml). Treatment of mice with the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium at a dose of 400 mg / kg significantly reduced the ulcerogenic effect of ethanol on the gastric wall with an estimated protection rate of 91%. These findings suggest that Artemisia absinthium L.  aqueous extract possessed good antiulcer and antioxidant potentials. This supports the traditional claims of this plant in folklore medicine. Keywords: Artemisia absinthium, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, gastric ulcer, ethanol.