Effect of Majorana hortensis Leaves Against Lipid Peroxidation

Free radicals inducing oxidative damage of cellular lipids, nucleic acids and proteins are thought to be one of the major risks for diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and various other degenerative diseases. Numerous natural free radical scavengers and antioxidants can protect biomolecules against the attack of free radicals and/or suppress the resultant injury. Three leaf extracts of candidate plant, Majorana hortensis, were prepared in methanol, chloroform and aqueous and subjected to test the extent of inhibition of in vitro lipid peroxidation by using different lipid membrane preparations, namely RBC ghosts, goat liver homogenate and goat liver slices. All the three extracts caused a substantial decline in the extent of LPO in all the three membrane preparations. The decrease in LPO was more pronounced in the liver homogenate. Among the three extracts used, the methanolic extract evinced a better protection in all three lipid preparations compared to the aqueous and chloroform extracts.