CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTICOAGULANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT AND ORGANIC FRACTIONS OF THYMUS ZYGIS L. SUB SP. GRACILIS

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant activities of aqueous extract and organic fractions of Thymus zygis. Water, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol were used as extractant solvents. The fractions were analyzed by HPLC and screened for their antioxidant activity in vitro using different assay. In vivo, the fractions were evaluated by use of the oil croton-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema model in mice and rat, respectively. Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time were used to determine the effect of aqueous extract, methanol, aqueous fractions and coumarone-rich extract on intrinsic, extrinsic and/or common pathway of the coagulation cascade. All fractions were found to possess considerable antioxidant activity and the rosmarinic acid is the major polyphenol compound in majority fractions. In comparison with the indometacin, the hydrophobic fractions presented stronger anti-inflammatory activity in the croton oil induced edema. Methanol and acetate ethyl fractions (50 mg/kg) significantly reduced the edema induced by carrageenan and their effect was comparable to the reference drug indometacin (10 mg/kg). In partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time tests, all fractions tested showed the strongest anticoagulant activity.