Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Potential of Verbascum latisepalum

Verbascum L. species are mainly used for inflammatory diseases and against malaria in traditional medicine. Therefore, we aimed to assess the in vivo anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and in vitro antimalarial activity of Verbascum latisepalum Hub.-Mor., Scrophulariaceae. The active methanolic extract was fractionated, and the anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions was evaluated using a carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. In addition, a p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test was employed in mice for the assessment of antinociceptive activity. Two saponin glycosides, ilwensisaponin A and C, and three iridoid glucosides, aucubin, catalpol, and ajugol, in addition to a phenylethanoid glycoside, verbascoside, were isolated from the active fraction. The possible mechanisms of action were evaluated through molecular docking studies. Antimalarial properties of the methanolic extract were also tested in vitro by the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay against Plasmodium falciparum, but any activity was detected. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].