In vitro investigation of antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of three Lamiaceae species from Morocco

Background Lkhzama ( Lavandula officinalis ), Mard-doch ( Origanum majorana ), and Lahbak ( Ocimum basilicum ) are aromatic and medicinal plants widely used in Moroccan folk medicine as a treatment for numerous diseases including liver diseases, rheumatism, and diabetes. This study was undertaken to examine the antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of the aqueous extracts of these plants. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using three in vitro tests: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) radical scavenging activity, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power assay), and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay. The antihemolytic activity of plant extracts was evaluated against AAPH (2,2′-azobis(2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride)-induced erythrocyte hemolysis. Results Our findings showed that all plant extracts displayed significant antioxidant and antihemolytic effects. In fact, among the studied plant extracts, the highest antioxidant power was recorded in Origanum majorana , based on DPPH (IC 50 = 12.29 μg/mL), ABTS (226.13 μmol TE/g DW), and FRAP (477.82 μmol TE/g DW) assays. Moreover, the same plant also showed the best membrane protective effect (269.55%). Whereas, Ocimum basilicum exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity using DPPH (IC 50 = 42.85 μg/mL), ABTS (IC 50 = 226.13 μmol TE/g DW), and FRAP (IC 50 = 172.84 μmol TE/g DW) and, thus, the lowest membrane protective effect (182.70%). Conclusion This result supports the use of these plants in folk medicine for preventing and treating many diseases, especially those related to oxidative stress.