Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Analgesic Activities of Incarvillea compacta Maxim from the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

<i>Incarvillea compacta</i> Maxim is a traditional Tibetan plant widely used to treat rheumatic pain and bruises. We conducted qualitative analyses by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantitative analyses of the total phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids content of different extracts of <i>I. compacta</i> Maxim. Antioxidant and analgesic activity were analyzed. The results showed that the methanol extract had the highest content of the various ingredients. A total of 25 constituents were identified, of which compounds <b>1</b>-<b>23</b> were found for the first time in this plant. The water extract had the highest capacity to clear free radicals in the antioxidant test. The water extract had dose-dependent analgesic effects in the first and second phase in a formalin test. The latency of pain from a hot-plate test was augmented by the water extract when the dose was greater than or equal to 30 g/kg. The water extract significantly decreased the amount of writhing in a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. These results showed that <i>I. compacta</i> Maxim is a new antioxidant and analgesic agent, and this study provides information on its ingredients for further study.