Anticholinesterase, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity assessment of Xeranthemum annuum L. and isolation of two cyanogenic compounds

Context:Xeranthemum annuum L. (Asteraceae) (XA) is an ornamental and medicinal species with limited bioactivity and phytochemical data. Objective: Identification of anticholinesterase, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the flower and root–stem (R-S) extracts of XA. Materials and methods: Anticholinesterase (at 100 μg mL⁻¹) and antioxidant (at 1000 μg mL⁻¹) effects of various extracts were evaluated via microtiter assays, while anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the R-S extracts were tested using carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹) and p-benzoquinone (PBQ) writhing models (200 mg kg⁻¹) in male Swiss albino mice. The R-S ethanol extract of XA was subjected to isolation studies using conventional chromatographic methods. Results: Most of the extracts showed inhibition over 85% against butyrylcholinesterase and no inhibition towards acetylcholinesterase. The flower chloroform and the R-S ethyl acetate extracts were most effective (97.85 ± 0.94% and 96.89 ± 1.09%, respectively). The R-S ethanol extract displayed a remarkable scavenging activity against DPPH (77.33 ± 1.99%) and in FRAP assay, while the hexane extract of the R-S parts possessed the highest metal-chelating capacity (72.79 ± 0.33%). The chloroform extract of the R-S caused a significant analgesic effect (24.4%) in PBQ writhing model. No anti-inflammatory effect was observed. Isolation of zierin and zierin xyloside, which were inactive in anticholinesterase assays, was achieved from the R-S ethanol extract. Discussion and conclusion: This is the first report of anticholinesterase, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and isolation of zierin and zierin xyloside from XA. Therefore, XA seems to contain antioxidant and BChE-inhibiting compounds.