Antibacterial and antioxidant effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract and its fractions

The production of reactive species over physiological levels associated to pathogenic bacteria could represent a high risk for many diseases. The Rosmarinus officinalis L. is used around the world due its pharmacological proprieties. So, in this study our aim is to test for the first time if R. officinalis L. extract (eeRo) and its fractions (DCM, EA, ButOH) could have better or similar antioxidant action to standars and among themselves in vitro or ex vivo, in brain, stomach and liver of rats. Moreover, we intend to clarify their possible effects on pathogenic bacteria. The eeRo was obtained from the dried leaves subjected to an alcoholic extraction and fractioned. The quantification of the constituents of eeRo and fractions were done by HPLC. The antioxidant proprieties of R. officinalis was analyzed by DPPH^•- radical scavenging, total antioxidant, dichlorofluorescein, lipid peroxidation and sodium nitroprusside -induced lipid peroxidation assays. The Minimum inhibitory concentrations of R. officinalis L. were tested with standard strains of danger bacteria. The eeRo, DCM, EA had significant total antioxidant and DPPH^•- radical scavenging activities. The DCM and eeRo got significant effects against basal levels of reactive species in liver, stomach and brain. The eeRo and DCM protected the liver and brain against lipid peroxidation. The eeRo, DCM, EA and ButOH had inhibitory effect in the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In general way, the DCM and eeRo had the best antioxidant and antibacterial effects among all tested fractions.