Study of aqueous extract of three medicinal plants on cell membrane–permeabilizing and their surface properties

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of three medicinal plants, Artemisia dracunculus L, Cuminum cyminum L and Heracleum persicum Desf, which contain saponins on biological membrane. Also in this study, some of their physicochemical properties were studied. At the first step, the aqueous extract of the plants were prepared, using maceration and then the extracts were lyophilized. 0.2 ml of RBC was added to 0.2 ml of different concentrations of each extract in McIvan’s
buffer, and then incubated in two different times and temperatures. The absorbance of the samples was determined by UV spectrophotometer. Among the three studied extracts, A. dracunculus L showed the
highest hemolytic effect and the Heracleum persicum Desf showed the lowest one. The values of emulsification Index (E24) and foam formation activity (Fh) showed for each extract the properties of surface activity. Regarding the results of this study, when considering the health of consumer, the use of aqueous extract of H. persicum Desf, with low hemolytic effect is preferred in pharmaceutical preparation. But if the hemolytic effect were considered, the use of aqueous extract of A. dracunculus L, with great hemolythc effect in comparison to the two other extract, is preferred.