Anti-inflammatory and Gastroprotective Properties of Hypericum richeri Oil Extracts

Abstract

Oil extracts of flowering tops of Hypericum richeri Vill. prepared in three different ways were evaluated for chemical composition, and anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities. An HPLC method was developed for determination of two dominant flavonoids, quercetin and I3,II8-biapigenin. The carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test was used for screening the anti-inflammatory activity, while indomethacin-induced rat gastric mucosa damage test was used for evaluation of gastroprotective activity. The oil extract prepared by maceration with 96% ethanol, followed by extraction with sunflower oil by heating on a water bath, exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory (38.4 %) and gastroprotective activities (gastric damage score of 0.9). The same oil extract had the highest content of quercetin (49 mu g/mL) and I3,II8-biapigenin (60 mu g/mL). These results approve the usage of oil extracts of H. richeri as an anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective agent.