Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Peganumharmala L. on Malondialdehyde Concentration and Catalaseand Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Mice Treated with Nanosilver Particles

Background and Nanosilver particles are associated with oxidative stress due to free radical production. Long-term use of antioxidant agents could result in harmful production of free radicals. This study assessed the protective and antioxidant effects of Peganumharmala L.onmalemicetreated with nanosilver particles. In this study 32 male Albino mice (25-30gr) were divided into four groups; one control group and three intervention groups. The intervention groups included a group receiving 500 ppm nanosilver particles, a group fed 20 mg/kg/day by ethanolic extract of P.harmalafor 30 days, and a group which was given ethanolic extract of P.harmalaorally and the same dose of nanosilver particles. Onthreeconsecutive day sat the beginning of the experiment intraperitoneal injections of nanosilver were performed. Post-treatment blood samples were collectedfromthe hearts and the activity of serum catalase (CAT) and glutathioneperoxidase (GPx) I nredblood cell and concentration of serummalondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. In the mice treated with nanosilver particles the MDA concentration significantly increased, while significant decreases were seen in GPx and CAT activities (P<0.001). However, P.harmalaextract reversed these effects i.e. it increased GPx and CAT activities and decreased the MDA level significantly (P<0.001). The ethanolic extract of P. harmalawith antioxidant properties is believed to decrease thefreeradicals produced by silvernanoparticles.