Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Laboratoire de Bio-Informatique, Microbiologie Appliquée et Biomolécules, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University M’Hamed Bougara of Boumerdes, Boumerdes, Algeria
2
Laboratoire d’Analyse Organique Fonctionnelle, département de chimie, Faculté de Chimie, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Alger, Algeria
3
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University M’Hamed Bougara of Boumerdes, Boumerdes, Algeria
4
Laboratory of Beneficial Microorganisms for Functional Foods and Health, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University of Mostaganem, Mostaganem, Algeria
Abstract
Introduction: Chrysanthemum macrocarpum, an Algerian Saharan endemic traditionally used in folk medicine, remains poorly explored beyond its essential oil. This study aims to characterize, for the first time, the phytochemical composition, phenolic profile, and biological activities of the hydro-methanolic extract of C. macrocarpum.
Materials and Methods: Aerial parts were extracted with 80:20 methanol:water. Phytochemical screening was performed for secondary metabolites, and phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential), and CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) assays, while anti-inflammatory potential was tested in vitro (BSA protein denaturation) and in vivo (carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema).
Results: Screening revealed abundant (+++) tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and anthocyanins, with moderate quinones (+). Extraction yield was 18.36%, with phenolic and flavonoid contents of 106.93 mg GAE/g and 44.57 mg QE/g, respectively. HPLC-PDA identified five major phenolics, dominated by chicoric acid (10.104 mg/g), kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (7.325 mg/g), and chlorogenic acid (4.738 mg/g). The extract displayed dose-dependent antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.392 mg/ml (DPPH) and 0.299 mg/ml (ABTS). Reducing power assays further confirmed this activity, with values of 0.277 mmol FeSO₄/g extract (FRAP) and 0.48 mmol TEAC/g extract (CUPRAC). In vitro, HME-CM inhibited BSA protein denaturation with an IC₅₀ of 70.92 µg/ml. Moreover, in vivo, HME-CM significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema, showing a similar temporal pattern of anti-inflammatory activity to diclofenac, although diclofenac consistently produced a higher percentage of inhibition.
Conclusions: C. macrocarpum represents a promising source of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, supporting its ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological potential.
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