Evaluation of the effect of malva parviflora extracts as a natural source of antioxidants on markers of aging

Abstract EN

Aging is a multifactorial process that leads to some loss of function and the inability to adequately respond to external stress.

There has been a global trend toward the use of natural phytochemicals present in natural sources as antioxidants and functional foods.

The herb, M.

parviflora, is one of the most popular herbal medicines.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic and water extracts of M.

parviflora as natural sources of natural antioxidants on markers of aging in experimental rats.

A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley male rats were obtained.

Six rats weighting 102 to 112 g were considered as young control group (first group) and the rest of rats weighing 262 to 275 g were considered as aged rats.

The aged rats were divided into three groups, (second, third and fourth groups) each group contained six rats.

The first and second groups fed basal diet and considered as control young and control aged rats, respectively, while the other two groups (third and fourth groups) administered ethanolic and water extracts of M.

parviflora leaves at doses of 7 mg for each rat once daily.

Blood samples were taken from each rat and tested for markers of aging, e.g., the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), liver functions, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c and triglycerides levels.

Blood hemoglobin and platelets and white blood cells counts were also measured.

Aging resulted in a significant deterioration in all tested markers of aging including SOD, GST, total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL-cholesterol, hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells concentration and platelets count.

A significant increase in AST, ALT, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-c and VLDL-c levels was also observed during aging.

Administering aged rats with M.

parviflora ethanolic and water extracts caused a significant improvement in the above mentioned markers and returned the abnormal markers back to the normal levels found in control young rats.

Therefore, it could be recommended that M.

parviflora extracts could be used to enhance the abnormal changes in health state of aged people and return them to nearly the normal state found in younger populations by using a natural source of antioxidants like M.

parviflora.