Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry characterization, anti-inflammatory effect, wound-healing potential, and hair growth-promoting activity of Algerian Carthamus caeruleus L (Asteraceae)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The roots of Carthamus caeruleus have been used by the population of Northern Algeria to treat several pathological conditions, including wound healing and hair growth. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, wound-healing potential, and hair growth-promoting activity attributed to C. caeruleus root.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory effect using carrageenan-induced paw edema test, evaluated the wound-healing potential by linear incision wound model, and evaluated hair growth activity using in vivo hair growth-promoting test attributed to C. caeruleus root. Preliminary phytochemical screening and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization were also performed.RESULTS:It was found that the methanolic extract of C. caeruleus was characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, sennosides, free quinones, saponins, glycosides, mucilage, and coumarins. The GC/MS analysis could identify 22 compounds and showed that the major chemical constituents were palmitic acid (12.88%), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (12.75%), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde, (9.19%). The phytoextract strongly inhibited (P < 0.001) paw edema formation in mice. The roots of C. caeruleus also showed a significant (P < 0.05) wound-healing and hair growth-promoting effects.CONCLUSION:The results indicate the richness of the roots of the Algerian C. caeruleus in biomolecules. These molecules exhibit an excellent reducing inflammation activity, a wound-healing property, and an interesting hair-promoting growth activity. All in all, the findings promote the usage of the Algerian C. caeruleus as an effective and a safe potential skincare alternative remedy.

In vivo Anti-inflammatory Activity of Aqueous Extract of Carthamus caeruleus L Rhizome Against Carrageenan-Induced Inflammation in Mice

“…Results in this study show a very important granuloma in histological slides of carrageenan control group, the treatment with Carthamus caeruleus L has shown a minimal inflammatory granuloma. Our results are in the same order with Dahmani et al (2018) , Benhamou et al (2013 and Benmansour et al (2020) with Carthamus caeruleus L collected from Tizi Ouzou , Setif and Tipaza, respectively. They have shown that the rhizomes of this herb were effective against inflammation induced by carrageenan in experimental animals.…”

“…Our results of phytochemical screening are in the same order with the results of Dahmani et al (2018) and Benhamou et al (2013) with Carthamus caeruleus L collected from Tizi Ouzou and Setif regions respectively in Algeria; they found that the rhizomes of this plant are rich in tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, saponins, terpenoids and steroids, glycosides, mucilage, and coumarins. The results show that the total polyphenols compounds in rhizome aqueous crude extract of Carthamus caeruleus L was low 13.08 ±0.22 mg GAE/g DM as well as flavonoids with 5.02 ±0.55 mg EQ / g DW.…”

“…The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect of plants has been attributed to their secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins and alkaloids (Birhane et al, 2020). The phytochemical studies on the rihzomes of Algerian Carthamus caeruleus L with gaz chromatography coupled to the mass spectroscopy were carried out by Dahmani et al (2018) andBenhamou et al (2013) who showed the presence of sesquiterpenes and fatty acids such as palmitic acid and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2furancarboxaldehyde (5-HMF). Many pharmacological studies on active plant components showed that unsaturated fatty acids like palmitic acids are able to influence the biochemical properties of the membrane such as fluidity and permeability (Dhifi et al, 2013;Nasri et al, 2005 ).…”

“…For this reason, we have chosen for our study Carthamus caeruleus L .In traditional medicine, this plant is used to prepare ointment by boiling the rhizomes in water until becoming beige cream and using it against burns, inflammation and skin rejuvenation in a deep burn. GC / MS analysis made by Dahmani, et al (2018) indicated the presence of very interesting phytochemicals in the rhizomes of Carthamus caeruleus L collected from Tizi Ouzou north of Algeria, as an example: nhexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP); this molecule is known for its antiinflammatory , antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antitumor, and antimicrobial effects. The enzyme kinetics study proved that n-hexadecanoic acid inhibits phospholipase A(2) in a competitive manner (Vasudevan et al, 2012).…”

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“…The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect of plants has been attributed to their secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins and alkaloids (Birhane et al, 2020). The phytochemical studies on the rihzomes of Algerian Carthamus caeruleus L with gaz chromatography coupled to the mass spectroscopy were carried out by Dahmani et al (2018) and Benhamou et al (2013) who showed the presence of sesquiterpenes and fatty acids such as palmitic acid and mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2furancarboxaldehyde . Many pharmacological studies on active plant components showed that unsaturated fatty acids like palmitic acids are able to influence the biochemical properties of the membrane such as fluidity and permeability (Dhifi et al, 2013;Nasri et al, 2005 ).…”