Abstract:
Nowadays, the consumption of herbal remedies is becoming more popular based on
the fact that herbal products are relatively safe, effective and inexpensive. The present
investigation was undertaken to explore and shed light on possible medicinal effects
of the water extract of common marshmallow (Althaea ofJicinalis) flowers upon blood
lipid profile, glycemia, inflammation, platelet aggregation, ulcer and bacterial activity.
After one and two months of chronic extract intake via drinking water (59, 230 and
590 mg of extract / kg body weight), a drastic increase in HDL-cholesterol was
observed, along with sharp decreases in LDL-cholesterol and mild increases in
triglyceride. At the same time, the water extract showed no adverse effect on liver
function. An increase in both serum glucose and insulin levels was observed in
animals receiving the extract for one month, which raise the possibility of
development of insulin resistance syndrome. The effect of water extract of the flowers
of Althaea ofJicinalis (50, 100 and 250 mg water extract / kg body weight) on ethanolinduced
gastric ulcer showed a remarkable anti-ulcerogenic activity that appeared to
be better than anti secretory drug such as Cimetril. The water extract of Althaea officinalis flowers (100, 250 and 500 mg of flowers / kg body weight) exhibited
substantial antiinflammatory effects in vivo in both acute inflammation and chronic
inflammation induced by carrageenan and formalin respectively. In addition, 500 flg
of the pure extract showed a time-dependant inhibition of platelet aggregation thus
protecting from thrombosis and shock. The water extract of the flowers of Althaea
officinalis (200, lOO, 50, 20 and lO flg / 20 fll) didn't have any potential antibacterial
effect against the hospital bacterial isolates studied. In conclusion, the water extract of
the flowers of Althaea officinalis showed anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and
platelet antiaggregant activities. The extract had also a positive effect on blood lipid
profile with no adverse effect on the liver which shed the light on the importance of
Althaea officinalis water extract as a remedy for treating patients with
hypercholesterolemia. Only one draw back of the extract was observed due to the hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic effects it caused.
