Original Paper

Artemisia herba-alba Asso (Asteraceae) Has Equivalent Effects to Green and Black Tea Decoctions on Antioxidant Processes and Some Metabolic Parameters in Rats
Zakia Ben Abid^a, Moncef Feki^b, Abderrazek Hédhili^c, Mohamed Hédi Hamdaoui<sup>a

a</sup>Unité de Recherche sur les Composés Antioxydants, Stress Oxydant, Eléments Traces et Maladies Métaboliques, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé de Tunis,
^bLaboratoire de Biochimie, Hôpital la Rabta, et
^cCentre d'Aide Médicale Urgente et de Réanimation, Tunis, Tunisia

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51:216-222 (DOI: 10.1159/000104140)

  Key Words

• Artemisia herba-alba Asso decoction
• Antioxidant status
• Blood parameters
• Trace element status

  Abstract

Aims: The objective was to compare the long-term effects of Artemisia herba-alba Asso decoction with a green or black tea decoction, prepared without sugar, on the antioxidant processes in rats. Methods: The direct parameters used in the control of antioxidant processes were total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase activity and conjugated dienes, as early markers of lipid peroxidation. However, the indirect parameters used in this control were the body weight gains, plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, iron, copper and zinc status. Results: After 9 weeks, artemisia or tea decoctions did not influence the daily food intake of the groups; however, they significantly decreased the weight gains. They significantly increased the total antioxidant status between 83.5 and 111% and the whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity between 23 and 38%. However, only the green tea and artemisia decoctions significantly decreased the plasma conjugated diene levels by 35 and 55.5%, respectively. Regarding the trace element status, artemisia, green or black tea decoctions significantly reduced the blood Fe by 28, 30 and 17%, respectively. Also, liver Fe tended to be lower in all treated groups as compared to the control group. In contrast, artemisia significantly increased both blood and liver Cu by 50 and 28% as compared to the control group. Moreover, they significantly decreased the plasma glucose and triglyceride levels between 29 and 40%. For the cholesterol, only the artemisia decoction significantly reduced the total blood cholesterol by 17%. Conclusion: Artemisia as well as green tea decoctions increased the total antioxidant status, whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity and zinc and copper status, and prevented weight gains and increases in conjugated dienes, plasma glucose, lipids and iron status. The beneficial antioxidant effects were in descending order: artemisia decoction green tea decoction > black tea decoction. So, artemisia could constitute a good adjuvant to combat obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and particularly oxidative stress.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Dr. M.H. Hamdaoui
Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de la Santé de Tunis
BP 176 Bab-Souika
TN-1006 Tunis (Tunisia)
Tel. +216 71 562 455, Fax +216 71 570 062, E-Mail Mh.Hamdaoui@esstst.rnu.tn

  Article Information

Received: January 20, 2006
Accepted: December 12, 2006
Published online: June 18, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 45