RESUMO
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Asphodelus microcarpus is an important medicinal plant belonging to family Liliaceae. This plant is used in traditional medicine to treat abscesses by local application of the powder; the roots are used against white spots, and specifically used for ear pain. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro antioxidant effects and the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the different parts methanolic extracts of the Asphodelus microcarpus: aerial part (APME), leaf (LME), stem flowers (SFME) and root (RME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antioxidant potency of extracts was evaluated by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS, ß-carotene bleaching assays, iron chelating, free hydroxyl radicals (HOâ¢) assays, and reducing power. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts was evaluated using the carrageenan induced rat paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema in mice. RESULTS: The estimation of polyphenols and flavonoids showed that the leave methanolic extract contains a high amount of polyphenols and flavonoids: 755.3⯱â¯0.036â¯mg Gallic acid equivalent and 42.2⯱â¯0.043â¯mg Rutin equivalent/g of dried material, respectively. Oral administration of the APME and RME extract produced significant (pâ¯<â¯0.05) anti-edematogenic effect with a dose of 500â¯mg/kg in the carrageenan induced paw edema after 6â¯h (58.04%, 58.75%, respectively). APME, LME; SFME and RME extracts at 100, 300 and 500â¯mg/kg, exhibited significant (pâ¯<â¯0.05) inhibition of xylene induced ear edema. CONCLUSION: the present study confirms the use of A. microcarpus in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory agent.