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Preventive Effects of Egyptian Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Leaves on Haematological Changes and Cardiotoxicity in Isoproterenol-Treated Albino Rats

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Abstract

We made an attempt to evaluate/compare the cardioprotective activity of two different doses (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, given orally for 30 consecutive days) of Egyptian sweet marjoram leaf powder (MLP) and marjoram leaf aqueous extract (MLE) against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarcted rats (150 mg/kg body weight, twice at an interval of 24 h on days 29 and 30). The present study showed (probably for the first time) that both MLP and MLE (especially the high dose) significantly alleviated (P < 0.05–0.001) erythrocytosis, granulocytosis, thrombocytosis, shortened clotting time, the increase in relative heart weight, myocardial oxidative stress and the leakage of heart enzymes (creatine phosphokinase (CPK), CPK–MB isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase and aminotransferase) in ISO-treated rats through reactivating non-enzymic (reduced glutathione) and enzymic (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase) antioxidant defence system and inhibiting the production of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in heart tissues. The modulatory effects of marjoram leaves shown in the present study were dose-dependent in most cases and much higher in MLE (4.3–20.3 % for all parameters taken together). In addition, the doses used in the present study were considered safe. In conclusion, this study may have a significant impact on myocardial infarcted patients.

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Abbreviations

ALAT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ASAT:

Aspartate aminotransferase

CAT:

Catalase

CPK:

Creatine phosphokinase

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GSSG:

Oxidized glutathione

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

Hb:

Haemoglobin

ISO:

Isoproterenol

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MI:

Myocardial infarction

MLE:

Marjoram leaf aqueous extract

MLP:

Marjoram leaf powder

NOx:

Nitric oxide

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Acknowledgments

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. N. M. E.-B. and G. R. planned the study, designed all experiments, summarized, discussed and interpreted the results, and drafted the manuscript. M. M. Z. and N. M. S. A. carried out the experiments and performed the statistical analysis with assistance from G. R.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no potential financial conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbasseya, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

    Gamal Ramadan, Nadia M. El-Beih & Mai M. Zahra

  2. Physiology Department, National Organization for Drug Control and Research, Giza, Egypt

    Nadia M. S. Arafa

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  1. Gamal Ramadan
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  2. Nadia M. El-Beih
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  3. Nadia M. S. Arafa
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Correspondence to Gamal Ramadan.

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Ramadan, G., El-Beih, N.M., Arafa, N.M.S. et al. Preventive Effects of Egyptian Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Leaves on Haematological Changes and Cardiotoxicity in Isoproterenol-Treated Albino Rats. Cardiovasc Toxicol 13, 100–109 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-012-9189-4

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