Bioactive content, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of whole plant extract of Micromeria fruticosa (L) Druce ssp Serpyllifolia   F Lamiaceae against Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Micromeria fruticosa Druce (L.) Druce ssp Serpyllifolia F. Lamiaceae (MF) extract and to correlate its phenolic composition of the biological activities.
Methods: Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was employed for the identification and quantification of phenolics. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging potential of the four extracts, namely, ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate, were assessed. The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Antioxidant status in the liver was assessed by determining the activities of some antioxidative enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the levels of thiobarbutaric acid reactive substances (TBARS).
Results: RP-HPLC analysis revealed high contents of quercitrin, rosmarinic and ferulic acid. The four extracts were potent DPPH free radical scavengers. Administration of the ethanol extract to the animals twice daily for 14 days did not show any evidence of hepatotoxicity. CCl₄ caused a marked increase in TBARS and significant decrease in CAT, GSH-Px and SOD levels, but this was reversed by the ethanol extract.
Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Micromeria fruticosa (L) may have a palliative effect in liver injuries and this is probably due to the antioxidant properties of the plant’s polyphenolic content.

Keywords
Micromeria fruticose; Phenolics; Hepatotoxic; Hepatoprotective; Antioxidant; Quercitrin; Ferulic acid; Rosmarinic acid