Valorization of the traditional pharmacopeia

Abstract

The present study aims to perform the valorization of natural resources widely used in folk medicine and also aimed to chemical analysis and assess the in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant properties, as well as evaluate the anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-butyrylcholinesterase, antityrosinase, anti-α-amylase, and anti-α-glucosidase activities of decocted (ADE), hydromethanolic (AME); hydro-ethanolic (AEE); hydro-ethylacetate (AEAE) and hydrochloroformic (ACHE) extracts from an important plant of the Algerian flora named Achillea odorata L. moreover, studies in vivo were realized on gastric emptying, intestinal motility and gastro-protective effects of the ADE and AME, in addition to the evaluation of the acute toxicity. The phytochemical analysis identified nine common compounds within the plant extracts: protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, coumarin, rutin, ellagic acid, rosmarinic acid, myricetin, and luteolin. A. odorata L. extracts showeddiverse activity levels against the lung cancer cell line H1299, resulting in the inhibition of cellular proliferation ranging from moderate to notably effective. No toxic effects at 2000 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg were observed in mice, confirming the safety of this plant. The antioxidant properties of A. odorata L. extracts were determined using DPPH, ABTS scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, reducing power, and metal chelating activity assays. All extracts showed high antioxidant capacity with the best performance in AME in the majority of tests. most extracts examined in this study displayed moderate enzymatic inhibitory activity. The best activity was recorded with AEAE in all tests. ADE and AME induced significative intestinal transit delay in mice to 28.80 % and 42.47 % respectively, the effect of both extracts may be related to the nitric oxide (NO) and the cyclooxygenase pathways. Moreover, it was found that both extracts ADE and AME induced a significant delay in gastric emptying to 42.81% and 48.89%, respectively. This effect may involve NO and the cyclooxygenase pathways in ADE effect and only cyclooxygenase pathways in AME gastric emptying effect. Treatment of rats with different doses of ADE and AME induced a significant protection of gastric mucosa against ethanolinduced ulceration 100%, This protection may be related to the augmentation of levels of gastric mucus and reduction in gastric mucosal stress. Moreover, the gastroprotective effect of ADE may potentially involve the activation of the NO pathway. The findings of this study highlight promising health benefits of A. odorata L. for the gastrointestinal tractb disorders.