ACUTE, SUB-ACUTE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ARTHROPHYTUM SCOPARIUM AERIAL PARTS

This study aims to evaluate the in-vitro and in-vivo antioxidant activity of different extracts prepared from the aerial parts of Arthrophytum scoparium. Polyphenols flavonoids and tannins contents were determined. The acute toxicity of ASE was carried out based on OECD during two weeks to ascertain the LD₅₀. In sub-acute toxicity, a 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day extract was orally administrated for 21 days consecutively. The results showed that decoction extract (DEC) was the richest fractions in Polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins content (23.29 mg/GAE, 99.77 mg/QE and 113.33 mg/TAE), respectively. Arthrophytum scoparium hydro-methanolic extract (ASE) had the strongest antioxidant activity using DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays with an IC₅₀ of 0.045 and 0.0017 mg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay showed that ethyl acetate extract (EAE) had the highest inhibiting activity (83.29%). Furthermore, all A. scoparium fractions exhibited a good ferric reducing power. The administrated doses did not undergo changes in general behavior, toxicity or mortality of the tested mice. The LD₅₀ was found to be superior to 5 g/kg. Daily administration of ASE leads to an increase in GSH level and decreasing the lipid peroxidation in the liver.  In-vivo, ASE showed a strong scavenging effect on DPPH and reducing power. In conclusion, A. scoparium extracts exhibited considerable antioxidant effects in-vitro and in-vivo. These findings support the traditional use of this plant as an anti-inflammatory in therapeutics.