Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of Urtica urens Extract Tested by Experimental Animals

Background and Objective: Many plant extract have been reported to have an antimicrobial and antioxidative activities, for instance, Salmonella typhimurium, recognized as the main causes of food contaminations and may induce various human infections. In addition, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced reactive oxygen species and the absence of their scavenge systems in cells leads to oxidative stress. The present study is focused on an essay to determine the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of aqueous extract of Urtica urens. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activity was tested in albino rats as a model using S. typhimurium infection. Mice were initially infected by S. typhimurium and then treated with Urtica urens-extract. Oxidative stress was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of 1 mM of H2O2. Results: The extract (3 mg kg(-1) b. wt.) treated animals was found to have significant effects on mortality and the numbers of viable S. typhimurium recovered from feces. The extract was fed to albino rats, followed by H2O2. Biochemical evaluation of the treatment has been tested at different enzymatic levels, such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (MDA). The antioxidant assay showed a significant decrease of the MDA level and increase in the GSH and SOD. Although, clinical signs and histological damage were rarely observed in the treated mice, the controls showed a signs of lethargy and histological damage in the liver, spleen and intestine. Conclusions: Urtica urens - extract has the potential to provide an effective treatment for salmonellosis and oxidative stress.