The mechanisms that cause nickel (Ni) toxicity are multiple and potentially affect all cells in the body. For this purpose, we were interested in the oxidative stress induced by the Ni at the erythrocyte level at a dose of 2 g/l during the gestation and lactation period in the Wistar rats and the capacity of the clove essential oil, Syzygium aromaticum, (CEO) to restore or not this state of stress. Extraction of the CEO by hydro-distillation allowed us to obtain a CEO with a yield of 10.60% and the characterization of this essential oil by GC-MS indicates that the major components of this oil are: Eugenol (80.95%), eugenyl acetate (10.48%), β-caryophyllene (7.21%) and α-humulene (0.87%). The antioxidant activity of the CEO made in vitro showed a free radical scavenging capacity DPPH with an IC 50 of the order of 25.60 μg/ml. In addition, analysis of the erythrocyte antioxidant status indicated that Ni significantly increased the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly decreased the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), resulting in dysfunction of the antioxidant defense system. On the other hand, the administration of CEO by intraperitoneal (IP) over a period of 21 days to rats previously intoxicated with Ni, indicates that this CEO contributes significantly in improving defenses against free radical aggression, through a recovery. At the level of antioxidant enzyme activities by increasing their abilities to eliminate radical compounds.
In vitro evaluation of the acaricidal activity of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) essential oil and eugenol against non-fed larvae of Rhipicephalus sanguineus