Origanum majorana L. extract alleviates dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress and pathological alterations in vivo

Background Origanum majorana ( O. majorana ) is one of the most widely used herbs in Egypt due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-genotoxic, antimutagenic, anticoagulant and beneficial properties. Our study's main goal is to determine how well O. majorana leaf extract can reduce hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress produced by dexamethasone (DXM). Thirty female rats were divided into three groups of ten. Animals in group1 received distilled water daily for eight weeks and served as control. Those in group 2 exposed subcutaneously to 0.1 mg/kg body weight of DXM three times per week for eight weeks and served as the toxic group, while those in group 3 were treated daily and orally with 100 mg/kg of O. majorana aqueous extract + 0.1 mg/kg of DXM three times per week for eight weeks and served as treated group. Results Due to DXM treatment, the activities of liver function markers were significantly elevated ( P