Evaluation of Acute Toxicity and Antiinflammatory Activity of Callus Extracts of Pulicaria Incisa (Lam.) Dc.

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of bioactive molecules of callus infusion of Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC, by the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity and acute toxicity. 70% was the higher rate of callus obtained from young capitula cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) solid medium containing 2.4D 4.10 -5 M and KIN 5.10 -6 M for 4 months. A Phytochemical screening based on colorimetric reactions was performed on the callus infusion material. Unlike the absence of primary components (starch, reducing sugars), secondary metabolites such as mucilage, saponins, flavonoids and anthocyanins were revealed. No sign of toxicity was observed by the application of 0.25 to 5 g/kg doses in this investigation, although, a significant anti-inflammatory response was revealed at 5 g/kg compared to that of Diclofenac ® . The chromatographic analysis (HPLC) detected the presence of 3-hydroxy-4methoxycinnamic acid the main phenolic acid produced by callus, which could be responsible of the positive anti-inflammatory reaction. These findings suggest that the callus could be an alternative source of bioactive metabolites useful in the human health as an anti-inflammatory source.