PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE, ANTIOXIDANT, ANALGESIC AND HYPOLIPIDAEMIC EFFECTS OF EPHEDRA ALATA DECNE. FEMALE CONES EXTRACT

Abstract

The aim of this study is the estimation of the antioxidant, analgesic and hypolipidemic effects and the chromatographic analysis of the extract of female cones of Ephedra alata which is growing in South East Algeria. The extract of E. alata showed better inhibition of DPPH radical, the highest reductive activity and gave the best protection of erythrocytes. The HPLC analyses has identified eight phenolic compounds: gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, naringenin and quercetin. The results of the protective effect of hyperlipidaemia caused by Triton X-100 showed that there are noticeable changes in the biochemical and lipid parameters, also for the parameters of oxidative stress in the group exposed to Triton X-100. Also, the treatment with the methanol extract of E. alata yielded similar results to the control batches by normalizing and decreasing the biochemical, stress and lipid parameters. The histological study confirmed the biochemical results. According to the results of the analgesic activity, the extract of E. alata induced a significant decrease in abdominal writhings compared to the control group and the values obtained are very close to those obtained with indomethacin.