Protective Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oil against Free Radical-Induced Erythrocyte Lysis

The oxidative hemolysis of rat erythrocytes induced by 2,2’-azobis–(2-amidinopropane) (aaph) and its inhibition by rosemary essential oil was studied.different concentrations (0.178, 0.357, 0.534 and 0.712 ىl/ml) of the essential oilshowed no significant hemolysis compared to phosphate buffer solution. aaph (25mm and 50 mm) induced hemolysis in a time-dependent manner. diff e r e n tconcentrations of the essential oil inhibited hemolysis induced by 25 mm aaph.however, in the presence of 50 mm of aaph, only the two higher concentrations(0.534 and 0.712 ىl/ml) of the essential oil inhibited hemolysis. addition of essentialoil 2 or 3 h after incubation with aaph had no significant effects on the time courseof cell lysis. it is concluded that, in addition to its well-established antioxidant effects,rosemary essential oil displays cytoprotective properties.