Kaoudoune et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics. 2020; 10(4):153-156 ISSN: 2250-1177 [153] CODEN (USA): JDDTAO Available online on 15.07.2020 at http://jddtonline.info Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research © 2011-20, publisher and licensee JDDT, This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited Open Access Research Article Gastroprotective effect and in vitro Antioxidant Activities of the Aqueous Extract from Artemisia absinthium L Aerial Parts Chahrazed Kaoudoune* 1,2 , Fatima Benchikh 1 , Hassiba Benabdallah 1 , Karima Loucif 1 , Soulaf Mehlous 1 , Smain Amira 1 1 Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas, Setif-1, 19000, Algeria 2 Laboratory of Environmental Biosurveillance, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Badji Mokhtar University, 23000-Annaba, Algeria ABSTRACT Artemisia absinthium L. is a medicinal plant largely used in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to estimate the content of polyphenols, and flavonoids compounds and also to evaluate the antioxidant and the anti-ulcer activities of the Aqueous extract from Artemisia absinthium L. aerial parts. The Folin-Ciocalteau and AlCl3 methods were applied in order to quantify the polyphenolic and flavonoids contents, respectively. However, DPPH method was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Quantitative analysis of the yield and phenolic content of the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium showed that the yield of the aqueous extract was 19.32% and its phenolic content was 58.66 ± 2.16 μg GAE / mg dry extract for polyphenols and 6.85 μg QE / mg dry extract for the flavonoids. The antioxidant acti vity of the plant extract evaluated by the DPPH test is very important (IC50=45.48±0.37 µg/ml). Treatment of mice with the aqueous extract of Artemisia absinthium at a dose of 400 mg / kg significantly reduced the ulcerogenic effect of ethanol on the gastric wall with an estimated protection rate of 91%. These findings suggest that Artemisia absinthium L. aqueous extract possessed good antiulcer and antioxidant potentials. This supports the traditional claims of this plant in folklore medicine. Keywords: Artemisia absinthium, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, gastric ulcer, ethanol. Article Info: Received 21 April 2020; Review Completed 22 June 2020; Accepted 04 July 2020; Available online 15 July 2020 Cite this article as: Kaoudoune C, Benchikh F, Benabdallah H, Loucif K, Mehlous S, Amira S, Gastroprotective effect and in vitro Antioxidant Activities of the Aqueous Extract from Artemisia absinthium L Aerial Parts, Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2020; 10(4):153-156 http://dx.doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v10i4.4253 *Address for Correspondence: Chahrazed Kaoudoune, Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas, Setif-1, 19000, Algeria 1. INTRODUCTION Artemisia absinthium L. (A. absinthium) belonging to the Asteraceae family, commonly known as “wormwood” in United Kingdom, as “absinthe” in France, and as “chajret mariem” in Tunisia has been known since ancient times as having important botanical and pharmaceutical properties 1 . Artemisia absinthium L is a yellow-flowering perennial plant which grows widely in dry sunny regions of Europe and Siberia, Northern Africa, North and South America and is used for its antiparasitic effects and to treat anorexia and indigestion. The aerial parts are present in many gastric herbal preparations, in dietary supplements, and in alcoholic beverages, for example absinthe products, which are enjoying a resurgence of popularity all over the world 2, 3 . Aerial parts of A. absinthium are an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants and antidepressants 4 . Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are produced continuously in the body via oxidative metabolism, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and immune function 5 . The term “oxidative stress” implies that the physiological balance between the creation of ROS and the ability to detoxify these molecules has been upset, leading to resultant stress and damage to cellular systems. Importantly, this can either indicate that there may be an abnormal elevation in ROS generation, or that there may be deficiencies in antioxidant defense systems. While ROS can serve as second messengers, be purposefully weaponized by our immune system to fight pathogens 6 . This oxidative stress is involved in several pathological situations including hypertension, heart failure and diabetes 7 . Peptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial and complex disease involving gastric and duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcer results from a pathological condition in which the biological balance between defensive and offensive factors in the