Chromatographic analyses of Lavandula angustifolia and Rosmarinus officinalis extracts and their biological effects in mammalian cells and cell-free systems.

Knowledge of biological properties of natural compounds allows to understand their therapeutic value, efficacy and security. We investigated: composition of Lavandula angustifolia (LA) and Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) extracts, their antioxidant capacity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, their DNA-protective potential against DNA damage induced in hamster V79 cells by several genotoxins or in plasmid DNA by Fe2+ ions and activity of antioxidant enzymes in cells treated with these extracts. Higher cytotoxicity, observed at higher concentrations of extracts, was accompanied by the increased level of single-strand (ss) DNA breaks as well as formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) sensitive sites. LA and RO extracts were able to protect DNA of hamster cells as well as plasmid DNA against ss DNA breaks induced by genotoxins and Fe2+. LA extract mildly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), while RO extract decreased the activity of SOD, but increased the activity of CAT and GPx. Cell-free tests confirmed antioxidant activity of both extracts. The biological properties of LA and RO extracts showed that they could have a positive impact on human health.