In vivo antioxidant potential of Teucrium polium, as compared to alpha-tocopherol.

The present study was undertaken to explore antioxidant potential of Teucrium polium (Lamiaceae) in vivo. Antioxidant activity was measured by three tests including inhibition of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, total antioxidant power (TAP), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in serum. Rats received dry extract of T. polium in 80% ethanol by intragastric intubation at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg kg(-1) daily for 14 days. Treatment of rats with T. polium extract showed significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH test as compared to the control. T. polium extract at doses of 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) significantly increased rats TAP and decreased TBARS compared to the control. Administration of T. polium at a dose of 200 mg kg(-1) per day did not significantly alter serum TAP and TBARS. Antioxidant activities of T. polium at a doses of 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) were in all experiments comparable to that of alpha-tocopherol (10 mg kg(-1)).