Antioxidant and Anti-Ulcer Activities of Teucrium Polium Aqueous Extract

Abstract

Teucrium polium is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family of Lamiaceae. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammations, rheumatism, diabetes and ulcers. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro antioxidant effects and the in vivo anti-ulcer activity of the aqueous extract of aerial part from Teucrium Polium (TPAE). The antioxidant effect of the TPAE extract was evaluated by ABTS and phenanthroline assays. Acute toxicity of PSSE was carried out based on OECD guidelines 425. The anti-ulcer effect of the extract was evaluated using the ethanol induced ulcer in rat.  The estimation of polyphenols and flavonoids showed that the aqueous extract contains a high amount of polyphenols and flavonoids: 151.19 ± 1.22 µg gallic acid equivalents/mg of dry weight and 38.12 ± 2.01 µg quercetin equivalent/mg dry weight, respectively. TPAE extract had an ABTS scavenging and metal chelating effects. Oral administration of the TPAE extract produced a signifcant (p < 0.0001) anti-ulcer effect with a dose of 400 mg/kg compared to the negative control. Our findings highlight the medicinal use of TPAE in traditional medicine and as an additional source of natural and safe anti-ulcer agents