The effect of the Satureja montana ethanol extract on the morphological changes of erythrocytes

Abstract

The present study investigated the antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts of the leaves of Satureja montana and their influence on the membrane stability of eryth- rocytes ex vivo. The ethanol extracts showed a very potent antioxidant activity of EC50 = 0.055mg/ml. Rat blood samples were treated with 96% ethanol extracts in different concentrations of 100 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml, and 300 μg/ml, and morphological analyses were carried out. The results showed significant differences in the shape of the erythrocytes incubated with higher extract concentrations. Considerable morphological changes were observed at a concentration of 200 μg/ml which was characterised by the highest percentage of stomatocytes, while the highest percentage of echinocyte formation was observed at a concentration of 300 μg/ml. The results of this investigation indicated that the ethanol extracts of S. montana exhibited a possible protective effect on the membrane stability of erythrocytes.