Protective Effect of Origanum majorana L. 'Marjoram' on various models of gastric mucosal injury in rats

Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(3):531-45. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X0900703X.

Abstract

'Marjoram,' Origanum majorana L., a culinary aromatic medicinal herb is known to possess various therapeutic properties. We evaluated the antiulcerogenic activity of the ethanol extract in hypothermic restraint stress-, indomethacin-, necrotizing agents- (80% ethanol, 25% NaCl and 0.2 M NaOH) induced ulcers and basal gastric acid secretion using pylorus ligated Shay rat-model. Marjoram at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight, significantly decreased the incidence of ulcers, basal gastric secretion and acid output. Furthermore, the extract replenished the ethanol-induced depleted gastric wall mucus and nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) contents and significantly lowered the increase in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). Ulcer preventing potential was further confirmed by histopathological assessment. An acute toxicity test showed a large margin of safety of the extract in mice. The phytochemical screening of aerial parts of marjoram revealed the presence of volatile oil, flavonoids, tannins, sterols and/or triterpenes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / toxicity
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / toxicity
  • Female
  • Gastric Acid / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / drug effects*
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
  • Indomethacin / toxicity
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Oils, Volatile / analysis
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology
  • Origanum / chemistry*
  • Phytosterols / analysis
  • Phytosterols / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Stomach Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Ulcer / pathology
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / metabolism
  • Tannins / analysis
  • Tannins / pharmacology
  • Triterpenes / analysis
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Phytosterols
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Tannins
  • Triterpenes
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Indomethacin