title: Protective Effect of Origanum majorana L. 'Marjoram' on various models of gastric mucosal injury in rats.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Tawfeq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Al-Howiriny
authors.forename: Abdulmalik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsheikh
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alqasoumi
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Yahya
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: ElTahir
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafatullah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010840:Phytosterols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013634:Tannins; D014315:Triterpenes; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007213:Indomethacin