Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Potentilla reptans L.

Potentilla species have been used in traditional medicine in the treatment of different ailment, disease or malady. Potentilla reptans (P. reptans) has been scarcely studied. The aim of this study was to test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of P. reptans aerial part and rhizome. DPPH assay was used to measure antioxidant activity of aqueous plant extracts. Anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by experimental animal model of phenol-in-acetone induced mice ear edema. DPPH radical-scavenging activity of both tested extracts was concentration dependent with IC50 values 12.11 μg/mL (aerial part) and 2.57 μg/mL (rhizome). Maximum anti-inflammatory effect (61.37%) was observed after administration of 10 mg/ear of the rhizome extract and it was 89.24% of effect induced by dexamethasone as a standard. In conclusion, P. reptans rhizome aqueous extract possesses anti-inflammatory effect and higher antioxidant activity than aerial part.