Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Rosa Sempervirens Leaves in Association with Saliva

Abstract

Rosa sempervirens, a perennial climbing shrub, is renowned for its significant antioxidant properties, primarily due to its rich polyphenolic content. The interaction between plant extracts and biological fluids such as saliva is a relatively unexplored area that could have substantial implications for the bioavailability and effectiveness of bioactive compounds. Saliva, as the first biological medium encountered during oral intake, may influence the structure and functionality of these compounds.This study aims to evaluate the impact of the association between the aqueous extract of Rosa sempervirens and human saliva on the plant’s antioxidant potential. By examining this interaction, the research seeks to understand whether the salivary environment affects the absorption, structural integrity, or bioactivity of the extract’s polyphenols. The antioxidant capacity of the extract, both before and after exposure to saliva, was assessed through various in vitro assays.Results revealed that the association between Rosa sempervirens extract and saliva demonstrated a potent DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 3.808 ± 0.126 μg/ml. The hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activities were measured, yielding IC50 values of 459.2 ± 0.126 μg/ml and 41.68 ± 0.126 μg/ml, respectively. The ferrous ion chelating activity presented an IC50 of 1064.159 ± 0.126 μg/ml, indicating moderate chelation capability. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays further validated the antioxidant efficacy of the association, with IC50 values of 47.5 ± 0.126 μg/ml and 358.2 ± 0.126 μg/ml, respectively.These results underscore the potential influence of saliva on the antioxidant properties of Rosa sempervirens extract, highlighting the need to consider the oral phase in the evaluation of polyphenol-rich plant extracts. Further investigation into the biochemical pathways of these interactions could provide new insights into optimizing the therapeutic applications of Rosa sempervirens in antioxidant therapies

Keywords

• Rosa sempervirens
• Saliva ınteractions
• Antioxidant activity
• Polyphenols
• Radical scavenging
• Traditional medicine

References

1. Moualek, I., Benarab, K., Kadi, S.A., Mouhous, A., Cherfouh, R., Djellal, F., Bouzourene, A., & Houali, K. (2025). Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of rosa sempervirens leaves in association with saliva. The Eurasia Proceedings of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (EPSTEM), 34, 43-48.