title: Anti-inflammatory, free radical-scavenging, and metal-chelating activities of Malva parviflora.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malva parviflora L. (Malvaceae) is widely distributed throughout Africa. It has several uses in traditional medicinal practice. Leaves of this plant are used in the treatment of some inflammatory disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant activities of the methanol extract (Met. E) and aqueous extract (Aq. E) of M. parviflora leaves were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Croton oil-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability were applied as acute inflammatory models to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts. The antioxidant effects were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay and the measurement of the metal-chelating activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results demonstrated that Met. E inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema by 57%. In contrast, the Aq. E did not show any activity. Furthermore, Met. E and Aq. E inhibited significantly the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability by 36 and 40%, respectively. However, Met. E and Aq. E exerted a strong scavenging activity with IC(50) values of 89.03 ± 2.65 and 76.67 ± 0.29 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, Met. E and Aq. E were able to chelate ferrous ions in a concentration-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that M. parviflora leaf extracts possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and thus have great potential as an interesting source for natural health products.
authors: Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Ferhat Abbas, Setif, Algeria. bouriche_ha@yahoo.fr
authors: Hamama
authors: H
authors: Bouriche
authors: Hichem
authors: H
authors: Meziti
authors: Abderrahmane
authors: A
authors: Senator
authors: Jurgen
authors: J
authors: Arnhold