ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF HYDRO-ACETONIC EXTRACT FROM WISSADULA AMPLISSIMA VAR. ROSTRATA (SHUM. AND THONN.) R. E. FRIES

Objective : The present study aims to investigate anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant effects of the hydroacetonic extract (HAE) from Wissadula amplissima whole plant and to determine its polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Methods : Extraction was achieved by soaking defatted W. amplissima with aqueous acetone solvent. Acute toxicity and pharmacological investigations were performed per os and intraperitoneally on Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice. The carrageenan-induced paw edema and the acetic acid-induced writhing tests were used to assess the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase were carried out in vitro using endpoint spectrophotometric assays at 295 nm and 234 nm. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power ( FRAP), lipid peroxidation and desoxyribose degradation assays were used to point out antioxidant activities of extract. Aluminium chloride colorimetric method was used to determine total flavonoids content when and total phenolic content was measured by the method Folin-ciocalteu reagent. Results: W. amplissima ’s HAE exhibited a slight acute toxicity with no lethality observed. Significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were recorded as well as strong inhibitory activities on lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase. W. amplissima ’s HAE also demonstrated interesting antioxidant activities particularly in preventing lipid peroxidation. Polyphenol and flavonoid contents were respectively estimated to 64.33±1.34 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) and 35.17±0.77 mg Quercetin Equivalent (QE) per 100 mg of W. amplissima ’s HAE. Conclusion: HAE of W. amplissima exhibited a promising anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential compared to the reference (acetylsalicylic acid, Hydrocortisone, paracetamol) and regarding the inhibition of lipoxygenase and lipid peroxidation. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities seem to be related to the antioxidant and enzymes inhibitors compounds of the plant extract.