Antihypoxic Activities of Aerial Parts and Roots of Ferula persica in Mice

 Background and purpose: Hypoxia occurs in ischemia and heart attack, and leads to death. It involves production of reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants exhibit antihypoxic properties. Ferula persica has distinctive antioxidant activities. Nothing is known about the protective effect of this plant against hypoxia-induced lethality in mice. Materials and methods: Protective effects of methanolic extract of F. persica aerial parts and roots against hypoxia-induced lethality in mice were evaluated by experimental models of hypoxia, asphyctic, haemic, and circulatory. Results: Aerial parts showed a very good activity in asphyctic model and at 62.5 mg/kg the extract prolonged survival time (P< 0.05). At 250 mg/kg it showed the same activity as phenytoin. Root extract at 125 mg/kg prolonged survival time (P<0.001). Significant differences were seen between the effects of two extracts in all tested doses, but aerial parts were found to be stronger than root extract. In haemic model, aerial parts and roots showed similar activity in same doses (P>0.05). They showed the same activity as propranolol (P>0.05). Both extracts showed high activity in circulatory model and at 62.5 mg/kg they prolonged survival time (P<0.001). Conclusion: The extracts showed protective effects against hypoxia in all tested models. Presence of polyphenols in this plant may be a proposal mechanism for its antihypoxic activities.