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Abstract

Pituranthos chloranthus and Artemisia vulgaris L. are two of the most important aromatic and medicinal species from the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families, respectively. They are traditionally used in certain pathologies in which inflammatory processes are involved. The present study investigates the potential of aqueous extracts of Tunisian P. chloranthus and A. vulgaris as a natural alternative source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using in-vitro techniques. The antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts were evaluated through several assays: capacity for scavenging free radicals (ABTS, DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, nitric oxide); and total antioxidant capacity by ferric reducing power activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) method. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated through the lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity. P. chloranthos aqueous extract presented higher concentration of total phenols than A. vulgaris extract, nevertheless higher capacity for scavenging ABTS, superoxide, hydroxyl, and NO free radicals. In the presence of liver homogenate, both extracts had poorer antioxidant activity than in the remaining lipid substrates. P. chloranthos extract had a higher ability for inhibiting lipoxygenase twice higher than A. vulgaris, while it had lower capacity for reducing Fe 3+ than P. chloranthos extract. Our results suggest that there are differences of antioxidant activity between both samples, but also the strength for inhibiting the oxidation is highly dependent on the method used. INTRODUCTION: Pituranthos chloranthus (Bent. Et Hook.) (Apiaceae) is an aromatic plant from North Africa.

Significance of Artemisia Vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications Substantiated by Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies

“…Oyedemi and Coopoosamy proved the strong antioxidant potential of the extracts of A. vulgaris obtained from South Africa based on lipid peroxidation, protein glycation, xanthine oxidase, and the sTable DPPH radical scavenging assays [101]. Ben Nasr et al investigated the antioxidant potential of the aqueous extracts of Tunisian A. vulgaris using the following in vitro techniques: ABTS (2,2 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assay), DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, and NO scavenging assays, ferric reducing power activity assay (for determining total antioxidant capacity), and thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay (for determining the inhibition of lipid peroxidation) [103].…”

“…The latest study performed on the extracts of Tunisian A. vulgaris plants proved their moderate anti-inflammatory activity based on lipoxygenase inhibition assay [103].…”