IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF ALGERIAN CAPER

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of fruits and leaves of Capparis spinosa in mice.Methods: The effect of methanolic extracts of C. spinosa on immune system were assessed by applying several approaches such as Lymphocyte proliferation assay in presence of mitogen (Concanavalin A), delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, humoral response and Cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression.Results: Administration of methanolic extracts at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg produced statistically significant results as evidenced by the increase in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response (P<0.05), enhanced the total WBC level in the cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression model (p<0.01). These extracts also showed significant increase in humoral antibody (HA) titre (P<0.05, P<0.01) at dose 200 mg/ml. Equally, C. spinosa extracts evoked a significant (p<0.05, P<0.01) increase in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation.Conclusions: The results demonstrated that both the plant parts extracts exert a marked immunostimulatory effect on the mouse immune system

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of methanol extract of Tamus communis L. roots

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti‐arthritic effects of the methanol extract of Tamus communis roots. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent and aluminium chloride assays, respectively while the antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH and β-carotene/linoleate tests. For anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat was used. Formaldehyde-induced paw edema and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats were used to evaluate the anti-arthritic effect of the extract. Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of T. communis showed 55.2 ± 0.036 mg GAE/g dry weight and 1.191 ± 0.002 mg QEq/g dry weight, respectively while the antioxidant activity (DPPH) showed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 of 0.128 ± 0.011 mg/mL. Using βcarotene/linoleate assay, the extract showed 88.13 ± 4.03 % inhibition. In carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat, all doses of T. communis did not show inhibition of edema. In contrast, formaldehyde induced paw edema decreased at the dose of 150 mg/kg days 2 and 4. However, doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg did not show any activity. In adjuvant-induced arthritis, all used doses caused no reduction in arthritic scores and in paw thickness except a significant decrease with the dose 150 mg/kg at the last day. Conclusion: T. communis extract exhibits high antioxidant activity related to the phenolic compound contents. However, the results of the anti-inflammatory and anti‐arthritic studies did not support its use in folk medicine in the treatment of rheumatic ailment except on low dose

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Sedum sediforme extracts

Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect and in vitro antioxidant activity of the areal part of Sedum sediforme (Jacq.) extracts.Methods: The plant was extracted with solvents of varying polarity (Methanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate, respectively) allowed its separation into three sub-fractions: crude extract, chloroform extract and ethyl acetate extract (CrE, ChE and EaE, respectively). Total polyphenol contents of the extracts were determined. The phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) induced mice ear edema method was using to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. The in vitro scavenging activity was evaluated using enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods. Chelating ability of extracts was assessed using Fe2+–ferrozine complex.Results: The highest content of phenolics compound was in EaE. The administration of CrE (12.5 and 25 mg/kg) reduced ear edema induced by PMA (%I = 35.81 ± 3.18 % and 38.57 ± 2.80 %, respectively), the effect was comparable with that of diclofenac used as a reference drug (%I = 38.84 ± 1.87 %). The in vitro scavenging activity of S. sediforme extracts confirmed that the CrE has the highest enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.063 ± 0.005 mg/mL and 0.178 ± 0.006 mg/mL, respectively. However, the ChE present an excellent  chelating activity with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.397 ± 0.001 mg/mL.Conclusion: The results show that S. sediforme extracts have a strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities which lend some support their use in the traditional medicine. Keywords: Sedum sediforme, Anti-inflammatory, Superoxide scavenger, Cytochrome C, Metal chelatin

INVESTIGATION OF ANTIHEMOLYTIC, XANTHINE OXIDASE INHIBITION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF SALVIA VERBENACA L. AERIAL PART EXTRACTS.

Background: In this study, Salvia verbenaca L. aerial part extracts (SVEs): were screened for their antihemolytic, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Material and methods: To investigate SVEs antihemolytic activity, the 2,2,-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) was used to induce erythrocyte oxidative hemolysis. In XO inhibition test, xanthine was used as substrate and cytochrome c for generating superoxide anions. The antioxidant activity of SVEs was examined by means of reducing power, DPPH free radical scavenging and iron chelating assays. In addition, SVEs were tested for their antimicrobial effects by evaluating antibacterial and antifungal activities. Results: Ethyl acetate extract (EAE) contains the highest amount of total polyphenols and flavonoids (661.78 ± 4.00 mg GAE / g E) and (28.81 ± 0.38 mg QE / g E) respectively. In antihemolytic test EAE was the most active extract with an HT50 value of 165 min. SVEs gave significant inhibitory effects on XO, especially the chloroform extract (ChE) with IC50 value of 0.0088 ± 0.000 mg/ml. EAE was the most active extract in reducing power essay (EC50: 0.0047 ± 0.000 mg/ml) and in DPPH radical scavenging essay (IC50: 0.0086 ± 0.000 mg/ml). Finally, the EAE has inhibited the growth of nine bacterial strains with inhibition zone diameters of (12 to 16 mm), but no activities have found against fungal strains. Conclusion: S. verbenaca could be considered as a potential source of natural antihemolytic, enzyme modulator, antioxidant and antibacterial agents

HPLC analysis, acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of Salix alba L. barks extracts on experimental animal models

The white willow, Salix alba L., rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, is traditionally used for its antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential in Algeria. As part of the ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Setif region in Algeria, in the present study, we assessed the safety profile of S. alba barks methanol (SAME) and aqueous (SAQE) extracts, their phytoconstituents, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power and hydroxyl radical tests assays. HPLC analysis identified 16 compounds in each extract with different concentrations. Gallic acid, syringic acid and cinnamic acid were high in the aqueous extract, while the methanol extracts were rich in chlorogeni cacid, catechin, methyl gallate, pyrocatechol, rutin, ferulic acid, naringenin, taxifolin and kaempferol. The extracts showed significant reducing power, DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging effects. In vivo tests showed a strong effect on carrageenan-induced paw edema after 5 h with an inhibition of 88.62 and 87.56% for SAME and SAQE (500 mg/kg), respectively. The extracts also at 500 mg/kg showed significant inhibition of xylene-induced ear edema of 57.81% with SAME 67.18% with SAQE. The results have shown that the methanol and aqueous extracts of the barks of S. alba had no toxic effect on biochemical parameters as well as the organ weights and behaviour. It indicates that S. alba could be a promising source of anti-inflammatory agent

PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILES, ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND PROTECTIVE EFFECT AGAINST AAPH-INDUCED MOUSE ERYTHROCYTE DAMAGE BY DAPHNE GNIDIUM L. SHOOTS EXTRACTS

Objective: Various biological activities have been reported for Daphne gnidium, the aim of the present study was to determine polyphenols and some biological activities of extracts from the shoots of this plants.Methods: Phenolic and flavonoids contents of D. gnidium extracts (DGE) were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and identified by HPLC–DAD/MS. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant potential of the crude (CE), chloroform (CHE) and ethyl acetate (EAE) extracts of D. gnidium shoots were investigated using several in vitro and ex vivo assays, including 2, 2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, superoxide anion scavenging (by both enzymatic and nonenzymatic methods) and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity methods. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured using the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity, reducing power and ß-carotene-linoleic bleaching assays. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and oxidative hemolysis were also performed to confirm the protective effect of these extracts.Results: It was found that values of phenolics varied between 130.84±5.99 and 137±7.66 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of cinnamic acid derivatives and other metabolites from the flavonoids family. All extracts exhibited a superoxide scavenging capacity. The EAE had the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The extracts showed an inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase, the IC50 rangesfrom 0.021±0.001 to 0.061±0.001 mg/ml. The EAE showed also potent reducing power ability. CHE possess an inhibition ratio of (92.11%) in the linoleic acid oxidation assay close to that of BHT (96.77%). All extracts exhibited antioxidant activity in the linoleic acid emulsion system (3.87-61.11 %). Under the oxidative action of AAPH, EAE and CE showed higher protective effect against erythrocytes hemolysis than the CHE. The percentage of hemolysis (H%) determined for EAE and CE after 1 h of incubation were 0% and 1.9%, respectively.Conclusion: This study indicates that DGE contains relevant antioxidant compounds responsible, at least in part, for its antioxidant and radicals scavenging activity. Flavone derivatives were determined as the main active component of the shoots part and the CHE was the most active extract.Â

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT OF TAMUS COMMUNIS L. ROOTS

Object: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activities of Tamus communis L. (T .communis) roots. This plant is used in folk medicine in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago.Methods: The extraction of polyphenols has been followed by the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids. The methanol extract (MeOHE) was chromatographied on a silica gel column. The column was eluted with chloroform and then with chloroform /methanol mixtures of increasing polarity, 6 main fractions (FI--FVI)) were collected and grouped according to their TLC (Thin layer chromatography). Several methods were used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity such as DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy), bleaching of β-carotene for 24 hours, lipid peroxidation and anti-hemolytic activity. An in vivo approach was carried out on mice treated with CE (crud extract) at a dose of 100 mg / Kg / day for 21 consecutive days, and one group was treated with vitamin C (Vit C 50 mg/kg) as a standard drug. To determine the improvement of antioxidant potential, basic biochemical parameters were used in tissue (liver), plasma and whole blood.Results: The results showed that the highest level of polyphenols was recorded in FII (73.143±0.009 mg GA-Eq/g extract (Gallic Acid Equivalent)) / g of extract) followed by MeOHE (69.786±0.10 mg GA-Eq/g extract). Total flavonoid contents of extracts / fractions showed that MeOHE contains the highest level. Inhibition of DPPH radical showed that MeOHE (0.1187 ± 0.025 mg / ml) and CE (0.2363 ± 0.019 mg / ml) have the most efficient antioxidant activity.  All the extracts were capable of inhibiting the bleaching of β-carotene by scavenging linoleate derived free radicals, and all the studied extracts have a very important antihemolytic activity (p<0.001) and revealed an extension of hemolysis half time from 70.34±2.15 min of CTL (AAPH (2,2-azo- bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride)) and 207 ± 5.65 min for FI. The in vivo assay wasexhibited a significant decrease (54.09%) of the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and increased glutathione (GSH) and catalase (47.30% and 46.87% respectively).Conclusion: These findings suggest that the extract obtained from T.  communis have active substances contributing to the increase in natural antioxidant potential

Anti-Inflammatory Potential Evaluation (In-Vitro and In-Vivo) of Arthrophytum scoparium Aerial Part

Arthrophytum scoparium is plant commonly used in folk medicine in Algeria to treat numerous human diseases especially infectious, Rheumatism, diabetes and cancer. However, its anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying mechanisms have not been studied systematically. The present study aims to assess both the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential and antioxidant activity of the plant. Results showed that A. scoparium chloroform extract (ChE) contains the largest amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. In-vitro bioassay consisted of investigating the effect of the plant extracts against protein denaturation (BSA and egg albumin). In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring the percentage inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema after oral administration of the extracts. Results showed that inhibition of protein denaturation was maximum in case of A. scoparium crude extract (CrE) with dose dependant manner. Similarly in the in-vivo study, carrageenan induced inflammation was significantly antagonized by CrE with inhibition of 87.02% at 400 mg/kg. CrE extracts showed the highest scavenger effect against hydroxyl and hydrogen peroxide. The CrE showed potent anti-inflammatory activity in both the conditions in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion different A. scoparium extracts scavenged reactive oxygen species efficiently; it may be due to the presence of its flavonoids and polyphenols. These results support the traditional use of this plant. Keywords: Arthrophytum scoparium, polyphenols, anti-inflammatory activity, radical scavenging activity

Inhibitory Effect of Xanthine Oxidase from Tamus communis Roots Extracts/Fraction

In the course of our phytochemical studies of plant Tamus communis L., methanol soluble extract (EMeOH) (138 g) was chromatographed on a silica gel column. The column was eluted with chloroform and then with chloroform /methanol mixtures of increasing polarity. A total of 52 fractions (400 ml each) were collected and grouped according to their TLC behaviour into 6 main fractions (I-VI).  Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in these extracts were determined by a colorimetric method. Values varied between 73.143±0.009 and 29.214±0.003 equivalent Gallic acid/g lyophilisate. All the extracts showed inhibitory properties on xanthine oxidase, the IC50 ranges from 0.029±0.017 mg/ml to 0.237±0.026 mg/ml. The extracts exhibited an additional superoxide scavenging capacity by using both enzymatic methods and IC50 values ​​range from 0.039±0.023 mg/ml to 0.141±0.086 mg/ml. These results show that Tamus communis L. extracts have strong anti-oxidant effects and may have some clinical benefits. Keywords: Xanthine oxidase, Antioxidant, Superoxide scavenger, Tamus communis L

HPLC analysis, acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of Salix alba L. barks extracts on experimental animal models

842-850The white willow, Salix alba L., rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, is traditionally used for its antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential in Algeria. As part of the ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Setif region in Algeria, in the present study, we assessed the safety profile of S. alba barks methanol (SAME) and aqueous (SAQE) extracts, their phytoconstituents, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power and hydroxyl radical tests assays. HPLC analysis identified 16 compounds in each extract with different concentrations. Gallic acid, syringic acid and cinnamic acid were high in the aqueous extract, while the methanol extracts were rich in chlorogeni cacid, catechin, methyl gallate, pyrocatechol, rutin, ferulic acid, naringenin, taxifolin and kaempferol. The extracts showed significant reducing power, DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging effects. In vivo tests showed a strong effect on carrageenan-induced paw edema after 5 h with an inhibition of 88.62 and 87.56% for SAME and SAQE (500 mg/kg), respectively. The extracts also at 500 mg/kg showed significant inhibition of xylene-induced ear edema of 57.81% with SAME 67.18% with SAQE. The results have shown that the methanol and aqueous extracts of the barks of S. alba had no toxic effect on biochemical parameters as well as the organ weights and behaviour. It indicates that S. alba could be a promising source of anti-inflammatory agent