Phenolic profile, antioxidant and antinociceptive properties of Syringa vulgaris

Abstract

Syringa vulgaris L. (Common lilac, fam. Oleaeae) has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant and antinociceptive activity of S. vulgaris bark and leaf. For identification of the compounds, accurate molecular mass and formula, acquired by LC and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and fragmentation patterns given by LC-ESI-MS/MS analyses were used. Altogether 29 phenolics were identified in the extracts, including 15 secoiridoids, 4 cinnamic acid derivatives, 4 flavonoids and 6 low molecular weight phenols. Based on the chromatograms, syringin and oleuropein are the main components of the bark, and rutin and oleuropein of the leaf. The radical scavenging activities of the extracts and the major constituents were also investigated by the DPPH and ABTS assays. Both extracts showed remarkable antioxidant activities in both tests. In vivo analgesic activity of the methanolic extract of Syringae folium and cortex was also tested using the hot-plate test on mice. Basal reaction time was determined, and two doses of each extract (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight) were administrated to two groups. Aspirin (ASA) (200 mg/kg) was used as reference standard and vehicle served as the control. Our investigations show that both extracts present similar analgesic effect as ASA at a dose of 200 mg/kg [1].