title: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities and acute toxicity of the polyherbal formulation: Romix®.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyherbal formulations containing different plants are used for the treatment of various diseases. Romix® powder is a polyherbal formulation consisting of 14 traditionally used herbs and is used as a food supplement. There is no information about pharmaceutical activities of Romix®.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the total phenolic and total flavonoid content, and investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and acute toxicity of Romix®.
  
  
  METHODS
  The total phenolics in the extracts were determined colorimetrically by using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The total flavonoid content of the extracts was evaluated by a spectrophotometric method. The quercetin content of the extract was analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the carrageenan-induced paw edema test in the rat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flavonoid and phenolics contents of Romix® were 50.58 and 265.83 mg/g in ethanol extract and 18.60 and 222.50 mg/g in water extract, respectively. Total quercetin content of Romix® was determined as 2.857 mg/g. Antioxidant activity results showed that ethanol extract in 1 mg/mL concentration (4.49775 µg/mL) had moderate antioxidant activity than water extract in the same concentration (4.28191 µg/mL). Intraperitoneal administration of 25 mg/kg Romix® extract exhibited anti-inflammatory activity and inhibited paw swelling at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h in rats with no acute toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Romix® due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities may be useful in the prevention or treatment of aging-related and inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research & Development and Pharmacokinetic Applications, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Iskender
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ince
authors.forename: Husniye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayalar
authors.forename: Gozde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elgin
authors.forename: Cinel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koksal
authors.forename: N Ulku Karabay
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Yavasoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012995:Solubility; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; C575067:romix; D002351:Carrageenan