Biological potential of Potentilla fulgens extract on acute inflammation, nocioception tolerance, oxidative stress and its phytochemical constituents

Abstract

Potentilla fulgens Wall. ex. Hook, a highly valued Himalayan medicinal plant with anticancer, hypoglycaemic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic properties, is used in traditional systems of medicine. The current study was aimed to quantify the phenolic acids (catechin, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid) in the root extracts of P. fulgens as well as determine the total polyphenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effect in mice. HPLC analysis was used to quantify the phytoconstituents in the methanolic (PME) and aqueous methanolic (PMWE) extracts. Except for ferulic acid, which was assessed to be greater (306 µg/100 mg) in PME, other phenolic components were found in higher concentrations in PMWE. Total flavonoids (3.42 ± 0.55 mg QE/g) and total phenolics (24.11 ± 2.11 mg GAE/g) were greater in PMWE. Even though both demonstrated comparable DPPH radical scavenging activity, PMWE showed a higher TAC value of 35.62 ± 2.17. PMWE (200 mg/kg) in in-vivo experiments showed anti-inflammatory action, with a maximal impact of 60.88 %. Thus, the roots of P. fulgens are an excellent source of phytochemicals that fight inflammation and discomfort by scavenging free radicals and the aqueous methanolic extract of P. fulgens has the potential for being developed into a variety of formulations and herbal products.

Keywords

• Potentilla fulgens
• Phenolics
• Flavonoids
• HPLC
• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory