Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, toxicity, and antihyperglycemic effects of Cistus ladaniferus L., extracts

The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic effects and toxicity of Cistus ladaniferus L., extracts to confirm their use in traditional phytotherapy. The polyphenolic compounds were identified using HPLC/UV and HPLC/DAD, as well as HPLC/UV-ESI-MS. The results showed that cistus was rich in punicalin (20.96 %). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the FRAP and DPPH tests, Cistus ladaniferus L. showed very powerful antiradical activity (IC50 50 = 12 mu g/mL) for the fraction of ethyl acetate from the hydromethanolic extract, compared with 47.76 mu g/mL for ascorbic acid used as a reference; and the FRAP method with EC50 50 = 0.45 mg/mL for the n-butanol fraction of the hydroethanolic extract. Analysis of the oral glucose tolerance test and comparison of the total areas under the blood glucose curve over a period of 150 min showed that the decocted extract had a significant postprandial antihyperglycemic effect in normal Wistar rats. The finding of acute toxicity doesn't show any toxicity for the decoctate even at 2 g/Kg. These very encouraging and positive results suggest that cistus extract could serve as a dietary supplement for both preventive and curative purposes in healthy individuals and diabetics. However, further investigations should be carried out determine and understand precisely the actions of main compounds of Cistus ladaniferus L. Moreover, the determination of the safety of these bioactive compounds should also evaluated.