In vitro antioxidant potential and in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Moroccan Equisetum ramosissimum

Background: Equisetum ramosissimum is a pteridophyte plant used in Moroccan traditional medicine for its diuretic and antidiabetic properties. The species is known to reduce blood cholesterol level and given in cases of gonorrhea. Objective: The present work aimed to explore the potential use of the crude butanolic (BuOH) and methanolic (MeOH) extracts of E. ramosissimum in the management of pain, inflammation and oxidative stress and their chemical characterization. Method: The phytochemical investigation on E. ramosissimum was initially done by colorimetric methods followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). Antioxidant activity evaluated using radical scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), reducing power and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays. Analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic-acid in mice and hot-plate-test in rat models. Rate-paw-edema and ear-edema was used as anti-inflammatory models. Results: The chemical quantification revealed appreciable levels of phenolic compounds. The results of HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS highlighted the presence of Kaempferol3-O-sophoroside7-O-glucoside, Kaempferol3,7-O-diglucoside, Vanillin, Ferulic acid and Tannic acid. The maximum IC50 was obtained for BE by DPPH test (0.064±0.0004mg/mL). BE exhibited an interesting antinociceptive effect; inhibition of writhes: 3.83±0.48 at 600mg/kg, increased the latency period on the hot-plate-test 14.98S±0.57S at 400mg/kg after 120min. Furthermore, the results report a significant inhibition of rate-paw-edema and ear-edema, for both extracts at dose 400mg/kg. Conclusion: E. ramosissimum BE and ME contain an important amount of flavonoids especially derivatives of Kaempferol, which can explain the interesting effectiveness properties. Possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries are suggested.