Effects of oregano (<i>Origanum vulgare</i>) tea on the biochemical profile of Wistar rats <br><b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of oregano tea (infusion) on biochemical profile and body weight of Wistar rats. METHODS: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 animals each: a treated group, which for 30 days received an infusion of oregano (oregano tea) as the only fluid intake, and a control group, which during the same period received pure water. All animals had free access to the same kind of chow and the liquid (water or oregano tea) was offered ad libitum. The rats were weighed weekly, and their body weights were recorded at 1st, 8th, 15th, 23rd, and 30th days. On day 30, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized with sodium pentobarbital. Blood samples were collected in order to determine total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. RESULTS: The animals that received the infusion of oregano had a lower blood glucose (135.20 ± 22.09) when compared to the control group (152.00 ± 16:51) (p less than 0.05). There were no significant changes in total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol or in weight gain and the rate of weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: The study of the effects of oregano tea in rats suggests that this plant might have beneficial effects on blood glucose control. It is proposed that further clinical studies are carried out with different concentrations and time periods.