title: Evaluation of antioxidant and free-radical scavenging potential of Artemisia absinthium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently there has been an increased global interest to identify antioxidant compounds for use in preventive medicine and the food-industry that are pharmacologically potent and have low or no side effects. As plants produce significant amount of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress, they represent a potential source of new compounds with antioxidant activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to evaluate the methanol extract of Artemisia absinthium Linn. (Asteraceae; MAB) for its in vitro free-radical scavenging effects using different classical assays, and in vivo antioxidant activity using global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R)-induced oxidative stress in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro scavenging activity was studied on the superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl, nitric oxide radical, and reducing power. Further, in the in vivo studies, the animal model of global cerebral I/R was established by occluding the bilateral carotid artery for 15 min followed by 24-h reperfusion. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content were determined by colorimetric assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the in vitro assays, methanol extract of A. absinthium showed significant (p<0.05) superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, and significant reducing power. Furthermore, in the in vivo studies, oral administration of MAB (100 or 200 mg/kg) inhibited cerebral I/R-induced oxidative stress by decreasing TBARS, and restoring levels of SOD and GSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that A. absinthium possess potent antioxidant properties, and may be used as a protective agent against disorders associated with oxidative stress.
authors: L. R. Institute of Pharmacy, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. kundanresearch1381@gmail.com
authors: Kundan Singh
authors: KS
authors: Bora
authors: Anupam
authors: A
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031171:Artemisia absinthium / Q000737:chemistry*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D000432:Methanol