Antilipidemic and nephro-hepatoprotective activities of Rosmarinus officinalis ethanolic extract in wistar rats

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, from the vernacular name Azir, is medicinal plant used by Moroccan population, it contains chemical compounds with great nutritional value and multiple phytotherapeutic virtues. The study aims to assess the effect of ethanolic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis on lipidic status and blood parameters in rats. Male rats of Wistar strain were divided into 3 groups: control groups and two groups receiving the R. officinalis extract, one fed a standard diet and the other receiving a fat-enriched diet. The ethanolic extract of the Rosmarinus officinalis leaves was administered orally at a rate of 300mg/Kg for the group 2 and 1000mg/Kg for the group 3 for 4 weeks. Serum parameters were measured using a spectrophotometer including: alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) at 340nm, creatinine (Cr), cholesterol, glucose, total cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG) at 500nm and urea at 600nm. The results show that EERO administration for 28 days decreases the levels of ALT and AST urea and glucose (P<0.05), indicating a nephron-hepatoprotective activities, and without effect on cholesterol levels in treated rats with 300mg/Kg and 1000 mg/Kg in comparison with control rats however, the triglyceride level was decreased in rats treated by EERO indicating a antilipidemic propriety of rosemary. These findings show that EERO has a benefic effect on lipidemic, hepatic and nephrotic parameters.