Journal of Environmental Biology

Nutraceutical potential of Rosmarinic acid on formaldehyde-induced lung toxicity in Wistar rat: A dose response study

S.F. Sayed¹*, S.S.H. Abadi², S. Nagarajan¹, G. Khuwaja³, A. Khardali⁴, Angum M.M. Ibrahim⁵, Safia A.A. Mahammad⁶, Amani Awad E.K. Taha⁷, Mawada Abubaker Abdelgadir Mohammed⁸ and I. Ahmed⁹     

¹Department of Medical Science in Nursing, Farasan University College, Jazan University, Farasan Province, 88213, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

²Department of Pharmacy, Shivnath Singh College of Pharmacy, Gwalior-474 011, India

³Department  of Pharmaceutical Chemistry  and Pharmacognocy, College  of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

⁴Department Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

⁵Department of Clinical Pharmacy,  Al-Rayan National College of Health Sciences  and Nursing, Madinah Al Munawarah, 41411, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

⁶Biology Department, College of Science, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawara, 42353, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

⁷Department of Nursing, Al-Dayer College of Nursing and Health Science, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

⁸Department of Clinical Practice, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45142, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

⁹Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190 006, India

Received: 17 July 2025                   Revised: 26 September 2025                   Accepted: 15 October 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : Ssaid@jazanu.edu.sa/ftm77@rediffmail.com                       *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-00030115-9446

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the anti-oxidative potential of Rosmarinic acid, one of the most abundant active components of basil leaves, against formaldehyde induced lung toxicity in male Wistar rats.

Methodology: Experimental animals (150±3.3 g) were divided into nine groups (n=6 animals/groups). Animals of first group served as control (G₀), second group were formaldehyde treated (G_f), third group animals were pre-treated with different doses of rosmarinic acid ranging 50 to 200 mg kg^-1 b.wt. at increment of 25 mg kg^-1 b.wt. Rosmarinic acid was administered oral for 21 days and pre-treated groups were then exposed to formaldehyde for 21 days.

Results: Increasing doses of rosmarinic acid pre-treatment up to 125 mg kg^-1 b.wt. had a significant influence on the antioxidative enzymes, hematological parameters, serum biochemistry and lung index. To establish best dose with high efficacy, superoxide dismutase (SOD) data was subjected to quadratic-broken-line regression analyses which exhibited best dose of 128.75 mg kg^-1 b.wt rosmarinic acid to reverse lung toxicity.

Interpretation: These findings indicate that rosmarinic acid has the potential to inhibit formaldehyde-induced lung injury through inhibition of oxidative stress and hypersensitivity.

Key words: Formaldehyde, Lung toxicity, Nutraceutical, Rosmarinic acid, Serum biochemistry 

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