Background: Silver nanoparticle has motility and absorption more than the other nanoparticles in different tissue. In red blood cells and other tissue, glutathione peroxidase protects hemoglobin oxidation and peroxidation of membrane lipid against peroxidation. The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant effect of Peganum.harmala and nanosilver particles on glutathione peroxidase activity in mice.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on male mice weighing 25-30 g. This study included 4 groups: a control group received distilled water, a group received 500ppm nanosilver particles, a group received distilled water and fed 20mg/kg/day ethanolic extract of Peganum harmala in 30 days and the last group was fed with an ethanolic extract of Peganum harmala orally and received nanosilver particles with the same dose. Intraperitoneal injections of nanosilver and distilled water were performed on 3 consecutive days at the beginning of the experiment. After the treatment period, blood sample was collected from the heart. Finally, a Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was determined in red blood cells.

Results: Results of this study indicate that the glutathione peroxidase activity increased in mice treated with ethanolic extraction of Peganum harmala and nanosilver particles in comparison with the group treated with nanosilver particles (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Glutathione peroxidase increased significantly in the group receiving the Peganum harmala.L. It seems that Peganum harmala has antioxidant effect that can prevent damage from free radicals nanosilver particles in red blood cell membrane.