In vitro Antioxidant Potential and In vivo Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Moroccan Equisetum ramosissimum

Abstract

Background: Equisetum ramosissimum is a pteridophyte plant used in Moroccan traditional medicine for its diuretic and antidiabetic properties. The species is known to reduce blood cholesterol levels and is given in cases of gonorrhea. Objective: The present work aims to explore the potential use of the crude butanolic (BE) and methanolic (ME) extracts of E. ramosissimum in the management of pain, inflammation and oxidative stress, and their chemical characterization. Methods: The phytochemical investigation of E. ramosissimum was initially done by colorimetric methods, followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). Its antioxidant activity was evaluated using radical scavenging activity in 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays. The analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid in mice and hot-plate-test in rat models. Rate paw edema and ear edema were used as anti-inflammatory models. Results: The chemical quantification revealed appreciable levels of phenolic compounds. The results of HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS highlighted the presence of kaempferol3-O-sophoroside7-Oglucoside, kaempferol3,7-O-diglucoside, vanillin, ferulic acid and tannic acid. The maximum IC50 was obtained for BE by DPPH test (0.064±0.0004mg/mL). BE exhibited an interesting antinociceptive effect; inhibition of writhes, 3.83±0.48 at 600mg/kg, increased the latency period on the hotplate- test, i.e., 14.98S±0.57S at 400mg/kg after 120min. Furthermore, the results reported a significant inhibition of rate-paw edema and ear edema for both extracts at a dose of 400mg/kg. Conclusion: BE and ME of E. ramosissimum were found to contain a significant amount of flavonoids, especially derivatives of kaempferol, which can explain the interesting effectiveness properties. Possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries are suggested.