Assessment of Antioxidant and Hemolytic Activities of Rosmarinus officinal L. From Rural Region of Algeria: A Comparative Study of Extraction Methods

Abstract

In the present study, the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and toxic effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis L.were evaluated. The preparation of the extracts was conducted using decoction and maceration procedures and the phytochemical composition and activities were determined using various methods. The extraction residues obtained by maceration and decoction exhibited similar total phenol content values (26.7 µg GAE/mg and 26.5 µg GAE/mg, respectively) and lowest flavonoid content (1.56 µg CE/mg and 1.54 µg CE/mg, respectively). The maceration extracts exhibited high antioxidant potential (93.02% with an IC50 of 253.30µg/mL) and high hemolytic activity (73.01% with an IC50 of 112.5µg/mL). Conversely, the decoction extract demonstrated low DPPH scavenging activity (88% with an IC50 of 209.90 µg/mL) and low hemolytic activity (57.18% with an IC50 of 367.87 µg/mL).Ours finding indicated that rosemary extracts have been demonstrated to induce significant hemolysis effects as a consequence of polyphenol pro-oxidation  despite their well-documented  antioxidant properties. The pro-oxidant effect perturbs membrane phospholipids and their structural precipitating witch conduces to the cellular damage. It is imperative that the present result be given due consideration when incorporating rosemary leaves into daily use by native population, in order to avert any toxic effects on human health.