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HPLC–DAD identification of polyphenols from ethyl acetate extract of Amaranthus spinosus leaves and determination of their antioxidant and antinociceptive effects

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Abstract

Amaranthus spinosus has been consumed traditionally to prevent various diseases including abdominal pain. In this study, the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and analgesic activities of an ethyl acetate extract of A. spinosus leaves (ASEA) were evaluated. The ASEA had the highest concentrations of total phenols (462.2 mg GAE/g DW), condensed tannin (5.01 mg CE/g DW) and total flavonoid contents (30.07 mg CE/g DW) compared to the chloroform, n-hexane, n-butanol and water extracts. Similarly, ASEA showed the most effective total antioxidant activity (45.45 µg/mL), DPPH scavenging activity (27.32 µg/mL) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (30.60 µg/mL). ASEA with the doses of 200–600 mg/kg (p.o.) clearly demonstrated antinociceptive effects by reducing acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions with a maximal inhibition of 79.57% at 600 mg/kg and increasing latencies of the hot-plate paw-licking response. The tested doses also significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the reaction time in the formalin test at the neurogenic and inflammatory phases. ASEA contained ten polyphenols with caffeic acid being the predominant polyphenol. Overall, this study gave evidence that A. spinosus is a new antioxidant and analgesic agent, and justified its traditional use for the treatment of pain.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Funding

The authors did not get any fund from any organization for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research unit of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Ilhem Rjeibi, Anouar Ben Saad, Jazia Sdayria, Anouar Feriani, Najla Hfaiedh & Sami Souid

  2. Common Services Unit for Research, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Sana Ncib

  3. Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology, Faculty of Science of Sfax, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Mohamed Salah Allagui

Authors
  1. Ilhem Rjeibi
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  2. Anouar Ben Saad
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  3. Jazia Sdayria
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  4. Anouar Feriani
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  5. Sana Ncib
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  6. Mohamed Salah Allagui
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  7. Najla Hfaiedh
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  8. Sami Souid
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Contributions

IR conducted the experiments and wrote the draft. ABS conducted data analysis and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. JS and AF contributed substantially to the writing of the manuscript. SN participated in experimental design and provided reagents. MSA revised the pharmacological part of the manuscript. NH participated in the direction of all the experimental parts of the manuscript. SS has provided direction during the current investigation and has contributed to the writing of the manuscript. All authors edited, read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ilhem Rjeibi.

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Rjeibi, I., Ben Saad, A., Sdayria, J. et al. HPLC–DAD identification of polyphenols from ethyl acetate extract of Amaranthus spinosus leaves and determination of their antioxidant and antinociceptive effects. Inflammopharmacol 27, 975–984 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0482-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-018-0482-0

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