The Effects of Solvent Polarity on Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Securigera Securidaca (L.), Achillea Eriophora DC, and Portulaca Oleracea Extracts

The effect of solvent polarity on bioactive extraction contents of three famous medicinal plants ( Securigera securidaca , Portulaca oleracea and Achillea eriophora ) with reported analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities was evaluated by GC-MS analysis. Pain and inflammation-lowering properties of all extracts were evaluated and compared to ibuprofen as well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The results indicated that, more extracted sterols, fatty acids, polyols (or alcohols), phenols, and flavonoids from S. securidaca and P. oleracea as well as antraquinone and terpenes from A. eriophora may be responsible for higher analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of these herbal extracts. Carbon tetrachloride and chloroform (or dichloromethane) more effectively extract phytochemicals than do aqueous ethanol solutions, which can be related to higher solubility of these compounds in the former non-aqueous organic solvents.