Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Durieu seeds' extracts: In vitro and in vivo studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ammodaucus leucotrichus Coss. & Durieu (Apiaceae) is traditionally used in southern Algeria as a remedy against a wide range of disease due to its health-promoting properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of plant methanolic extract and its fractions in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-radical activity was assessed in vitro using ABTS•+, superoxide anion (O2•-) and nitric oxide radical (•NO). Lipid peroxidation inhibition was also investigated in the linoleic acid system. Enzyme inhibition assay was performed against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The anti-inflammatory effect of extracts was screened in vitro through thermal induction of human serum albumin, and in vivo on a skin acute inflammation model induced by λ-carrageenan paw injection, xylene and croton oil topical application. Analgesic effect was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing test. RESULTS: The highest contents of polyphenols and flavonoids was recorded by the crude extract (77.14 ± 0.01 µg GAE/mg E and 19.59 ± 0.08 µg QE/mg E, respectively). Among the extracts, ethyl acetate extract showed a promising anti-radical activity of ABTS•+, O2•- and •NO, in addition to a remarkable inhibition activity of the tested enzymes. Meanwhile, all extracts effectively protected linoleic acid against lipid peroxidation and human serum albumin structure in thermal condition even at low concentration (0.31 mg/ml). Oral administration of 200 mg/kg of crude extract successfully inhibited acetic acid induced nociception and reduced edema formation induced by xylene and carrageenan. However, a dose-dependent manner was observed to decrease ear edema by a microscopic examination in croton oil induced acute inflammation. Nitrite and malondialdehyde levels together with catalase activity were modulated in the presence of plant-derived bioactive compounds. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Ammodaucus leucotrichus is potentially rich source of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds.

Phenolic composition and correlation with antioxidant properties of various organic fractions from Hertia cheirifolia extracts.

Hertia cheirifolia L. is a medicinal plant that has been used for a long time in folk Mediterranean medicine. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the phenolic profile and the antioxidant potential of organic fractions from H. cheirifolia extracts. Crude methanolic extracts were firstly prepared from the different parts of the plant. Then four different organic fractions were obtained by fractioning each extract, using different solvents with increasing polarity (hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate). The Phenolic content was analyzed using a UV-Vis colorimetric methods followed by a qualitative and quantitative analysis by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) system. After that, the antioxidant potential of the different organic fractions was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays, reducing power of iron (FRAP) and inhibition of ß-carotene oxidation tests. Our results revealed that ethyl acetate fractions (EA) contained the highest content of total phenolics (100-250 mg GAE/g). Indeed, the ethyl acetate fraction from the flower extract (EA-F) displayed the lowest IC50 values for the scavenging of DPPH and ABTS free radicals (38.83 ± 0.34 µg/ml and 23.76 ± 0.11 µg/ml, respectively). Also, the strongest iron reducing power (2628.87 ± 16.47 µmol Fe2+Eq/ml) and the best rate of inhibition of the ß-carotene oxidation (58.91 ± 5.79 %) were recorded. In sum, the present study suggests that, the organic fractions from H. cherifolia are potential natural antioxidants and this is probably related to their phenolics content and structure.