Evaluation of Antihypoxic Activities of Feijoa Sellowiana, Nepeta Pogonosperma and Cucumis Melo in Mice

Abstract

Background and purpose: Hypoxia can lead to body function impairment and may cause a variety of physiological abnormalities. Hypoxia is linked to the pathology of acute mountain sickness, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, and is the leading cause of death in many countries. Feijoa sellowiana, Nepeta pogonosperma, and Cucumis melo are plants with good antioxidant activities. Materials and methods: Protective effects of F. sellowiana, N. pogonosperma fruits and C. melo aerial parts against hypoxia-induced lethality in mice were evaluated by three experimental models of hypoxia, including asphyctic, haemic, and circulatory models. Results: F. sellowiana, and N. pogonosperma extracts had good protective effects and increased the survival time of male mice even at their lowest doses, 31.25 and 62.5 mg/kg. In all the models, they were effective at low doses and showed a similar degree of efficacy as propranolol and phenytoin, which were used as positive controls. C. melo fruit extract showed a weak effect in these tests. It was effective only in the dose of 250 mg/kg in blood circulatory model of hypoxia. Conclusion: Extracts showed very good protective effects against hypoxia in all the hypoxic models. Even at low doses, they were able to show the same activity of positive controls. It seems that these plants have a good potential for the treatment of hypoxic conditions.

Keywords

• asphyctic hypoxia
• haemic hypoxia
• circulatory hypoxia
• feijoa sellowiana
• nepeta pogonosperma
• cucumis melo