Polyphenolic Profile, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Nociceptive Activities of Some African Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the polyphenolic profile and the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of four traditionally used medicinal plants from Burkina Faso: Parkia biglobosa, Detarium microcarpum, Vitellaria paradoxa and Sclerocarya birrea. The analysis of the main phenolic compounds was performed by the HPLC-UV-MS method. The anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous bark extracts was investigated by the λ-carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test. The anti-nociceptive activity was evaluated by the Randall–Selitto test under inflammatory conditions. Seven phenolic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, gentisic, vanillic, p-coumaric, ferulic, and syringic acids), and three flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, and quercitrin) were identified in the plant samples. High contents of gallic acid were determined in the D. microcarpum, P. biglobosa and S. birrea extracts (190–300 mg/100 g), and V. paradoxa extract was the richest in epicatechin (173.86 mg/100 g). The λ-carrageenan-induced inflammation was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by the P. biglobosa and D. microcarpum extracts (400 mg/kg p.o.). Under the inflammatory conditions, a significant anti-nociceptive activity (p < 0.001) was obtained after 2–3 h from the induction of inflammation. The effects of the tested extracts could be related to the presence of polyphenols and could be useful in the management of certain inflammatory diseases.

Biological Activity and Chemical Composition of Detarium microcarpum Guill. and Perr—A Systematic Review

“…The polyphenolic chemicals found in abundance in the studied extract may be responsible for these effects. Gallic acid had anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antianaphylactic, antitumor, and antiradiation effects in prior research studies [ 105 , 106 ]. The anti-inflammatory properties of D. microcarpum aqueous extracts, which contain polyphenolic compounds such as vanillic acid, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid, imply that they are promising herbal remedies for pain and inflammation management [ 107 ].…”

Potential Gonado-Protective Effect of Cichorium endivia and Its Major Phenolic Acids against Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Injury in Mice

“…Among the isolated compounds, the phenolic compounds vanillic, ferulic, and p -coumaric acids were the major phytoconstituents of C. endivia , which were obtained in a considerable amount, sufficient for our in vivo study, as these compounds have been proved to have diverse activities and can be used as chemoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents [ 64 , 65 ].…”