Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extract of Deverra scoparia Coss and Dur obtained from Tamanrasset, Algeria

Purpose: To determine the toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Deverra scoparia Coss. & Dur. and the phenolic compounds involvedMethods: The aqueous extract of Deverra scoparia Coss. & Dur. was intra-gastrically administered at increasing doses (2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 g/kg) to mice of both sexes in order to study its acute toxicity. Analgesic activity was evaluated in mice and rats using acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin tests at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by carrageenan-induced paw oedema method, while the bioactive compounds in the extract were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.Results: The extract (1000 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing (71.18 %) and formalin (83.58 %) tests; and 73.52 % reduction of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test (p < 0.001). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of two phenolic acids, viz, salicylic acid (21.81 mg/g dry weight) and rosmarinic acid (28.44 mg/g dry weight); and apigenin, a flavonoid aglycone (5.70 mg/g dry weight).Conclusion: These results indicate that the extract of Deverra scoparia Coss. & Dur. is non-toxic even at a dose of 16g/kg. The extract possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential which may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds (apigenin, salicylic acid and rosmarinic acid).Keywords: Deverra scoparia Coss. & Dur., Acute toxicity, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, HPLC, Phenolic compounds