Context: Hertia cheirifolia L. (Asteraceae), a perennial shrub widely distributed in Northern Africa, is traditionally used to treat inflammatory disorders. Objective: The protective effect of methanol (Met E) and aqueous (Aq E) extracts of Hertia cheirifolia against DNA, lipid and protein oxidation was investigated. Materials and methods: Different concentrations (50–1000 μg/mL) of Hertia cheirifolia aerial part extracts were examined against DNA, lipid and protein oxidation induced by H2O2 + UV, FeSO4, and Fe3+/H2O2-ascorbic acid, respectively. The DPPH•, metal ion chelating, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching tests were conducted. Results: Both extracts were rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins, and were able to scavenge DPPH• with IC50 values of 138 and 197 μg/mL, respectively. At 300 μg/mL, Aq E exerted stronger chelating effect (99%) than Met E (69%). However, Met E reducing power (IC50 = 61 μg/mL) was more than that of Aq E (IC50 = 193 μg/mL). Both extracts protected from β-carotene bleaching by 74% and 94%, respectively, and inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation. The inhibitory activity of Aq E extract (64%) was twice more than that of Met E (32%). Interestingly, both extracts protected DNA against the cleavage by about 96–98%. At 1 mg/mL, Met E and Aq E restored protein band intensity by 94–99%. Conclusions: Hertia cheirifolia exhibits potent antioxidant activity and protects biomolecules against oxidative damage; hence, it may serve as potential source of natural antioxidant for pharmaceutical applications and food preservation. This is the first report on the protective activity of this plant against biomolecule oxidation.

The protective activity of methanolic (Met E) and aqueous (Aq E) extracts of Globularia alypum L. (G. alypum) against DNA, lipid and protein oxidative damage was investigated. Moreover, the scavenging, chelating, and reducing power activities of the extracts were also evaluated. Phytochemical analysis was performed to determine phenolic compounds. Results showed that Met E and Aq E were rich in phenolic compounds, and were able to scavenge DPPH˙ with IC50 values of 48.61 µg/mL and 51.97 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, both extracts were able to chelate ferrous ions. At 300 μg/mL, the chelating activity was 97.53% and 91.02%, respectively. The reducing power of these extracts was also remarkable and concentration dependent. At 100 µg/mL, both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidatin by only 42.45% and 4.03%. However, the DNA oxidation damage was inhibited dosedependently in the presence of G. alypum extracts. At 1 mg/mL, both extracts suppressed DNA cleavage by 83%-84%. The protein oxidation was also inhibited by G. alypum extracts. At 1 mg/mL, Aq E and Met E protected BSA fragmentation by 77%-99%. The overall results suggest that G. alypum extracts exerted antioxidant activity and protect biomolecules against oxidative damage; hence it may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Context: Hertia cheirifolia L. (Asteraceae) is traditionally used in Northern Africa to treat various inflammatory infections. However, few studies on this plant have been reported. Objective: The anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of H. cheirifolia leaves was investigated using different experimental models. Materials and methods: Phytochemical analysis was performed to determine phenolic compounds. Acute toxicity of the extract (2000 mg/kg) was examined in Swiss albino mice for 14 days, before croton oilinduced ear oedema in mice, carrageenan-induced paw oedema in Swiss albino rats, cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats and carrageenan-induced air pouch in mice were conducted. The IL-1b and TNF-a release from concanavalin A-stimulated monocytes was measured by ELISA. Results: Methanol extract of H. cheirifolia is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. Cinnamic acid and rutin represent the major constituents. Methanol extract up to 2000 mg/kg did not produce any toxic effects. Topical application of 2 mg/ear of the extract produced 78.7% of inhibition on ear swilling. Oral pre-treatment of rats with 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract inhibited paw oedema by 70% and 89%, respectively. At 200 mg/kg, granuloma dry and wet weights were reduced by 41.85% and 61.72%, respectively. Moreover, the treatment with methanol extract at 1 mg/kg exerted 62.7% of inhibition on leucocytes migrated into the ear pouch. TNF-a and IL-1b release was reduced by 69% and 78%, respectively, with 1 lg/mL of the extract. Conclusion: Methanol extract of H. cheirifolia possesses a strong anti-inflammatory activity and may be considered an interesting source of effective anti-inflammatory compounds.ARTICLE HISTORY

Objective: This report is an attempt to study the phenolic composition of Rubus fruticosus (RFE) and Zizyphus vulgaris (ZVE) methanol extracts and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in-vitro and in-vivo. Methods:Total phenolic and total flavonoids contents of extracts were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-TOF/MS. The antioxidant activities were evaluated in vitro using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The effect of RFE and ZVE on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 Results:The phytochemical analysis of these extracts showed that RFE possesses higher polyphenolic and flavonoid content than ZVE. in the same way RFE exerted the highest antioxidant capacity with IC UV-photolysis was also investigated. The antioxidant effect of RFE and ZVE was tested in vivo using the blood total antioxidant capacity test in mice. On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in vivo using two models of acute inflammation ear edema and vascular permeability. 50 value of 14 µg/ml in DPPH assay, 1.58 mmol of Trolox E/mg extract and 3.39 of mmol FesO4/mg extract in ABTS, and FRAP assay respectively. The studied extracts showed a concentration-dependent protective effect on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 UV-photolysis. The daily oral administration of 200 mg/kg of RFE or ZVE during three weeks showed an improvement of the blood total antioxidant capacity; the HT50 Conclusion:The results obtained in this investigation showed that RFE possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in comparison with ZVE, which may be attributed to the presence of polyphenolic phytoconstituents. values were151.45 min and 146.72 min for the groups treated with RFE and ZVE, respectively versus 122.5 min for the control group. The topical application of 2 mg/ear of RFE inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema by 75.72%, while the inhibition exerted by ZVE was 64.24%. These inhibitions were higher than that of indomethacin, used as a reference. Moreover, the oral administration of 400 mg/kg of RFE inhibited significantly (33.57%) acetic acid induced vascular permeability in mice. However, this effect was lower than this of indomethacin. The inhibition effect exerted by ZVE was not significant.

The anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant activities of methanol (ME) and aqueous (AE) extracts of Anacyclus clavatus were evaluated. Phenolic constituents in the extracts were screened. Croton oil-induced ear edema in mice, carrageenan-induced paw edema and pleurisy in rats were evoked. The antioxidant effect was tested by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, ion chelating, lipid peroxidation tests. Both extracts are rich in phenolic compounds. The application of 2 mg per ear of ME or AE inhibited ear edema by 84 and 83 %, respectively. The oral treatment of rats with 200 or 400 mg kg -1 of ME reduced paw edema by 64 and 74%, respectively, whereas the inhibition by AE was by 65 and 80%, respectively. At 400 mg kg -1 , the extracts decreased exudation and neutrophil migration into the pleural cavity by 64 and 66%, respectively, while the inhibition by AE was 42 and 55%, respectively. On the other hand, ME exerted scavenging activity higher than AE, while the AE chelating activity was more than that of ME. However, both extracts had similar inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. In general, A. clavatus may be used as a source of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents.