Chemical diversity analysis and biological activities evaluation of different polyphenolic extracts of Marrubium deserti De Noé from Algeria.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Marrubium deserti De Noe (Lamiaceae) commonly known as desert horehound, is a small perennial herb distributed in arid climates. This plant has been used in Algeria for the treatment of cold, cough, fever and inflammation. Aim of the study: This study aimed to perform a phytochemical analysis and to evaluate the effect of diethyl ether (ExDiEth), n-butanol (ExBut) and hydroalcoholic (ExHyD) extracts of the aerial parts of M. deserti De Noe on inflammation, nociceptive response and fever in animal models. Materials and methods The total phenolic content and the different phenolic fraction (flavones-flavonols, free aglycones, anthocyanidins, C-glycosides and flavonic heterosides) were quantified in order to study the chemical diversity. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema test and the nociceptive response was determined by the chemical method using acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking tests and by the thermal method using the hot plate in mice. In addition, anti-fever was investigated using yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. Results Quantitative analysis revealed that among all extracts, ExBut had a higher phenolic content and the aerial parts of M. deserti De Noe collected from two different sites (Biskra and Tamanresset) had a significant difference in the contents of flavonic heterosids and flavones-flavonols. PCA and CA showed a strong intra-specific variability of M. deserti De Noe individuals. Our results showed that the ExDiEth, ExBut and ExHyD treatments prevented the increase of paw oedema by 56.25%, 66.65% and 45.56% inhibition percent, respectively. Moreover, treatments with these extracts significantly (p Conclusion Results from this study show that M. deserti De Noe aerial parts exhibited anti-inflammatory, analgesic with central and peripheral actions and antipyretic activities which could be associated with the presence of some phytochemicals as flavones, flavonols, flavonic heterosids and phenolic acids.