EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTALGIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF CRATAEGUS AZAROLUS.

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential effects of a Crataegus azarolus extract on antioxidant, antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Additionally, a phytochemical analysis was conducted to identify the chemical constituents of the extract. The antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene assays, while the antibacterial activity was evaluated against five different microorganisms by measuring the diameter of inhibition zones. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were examined by inducing paw edema with carrageenan and intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid, respectively. The results indicated that the extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and the highest antibacterial activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis, with an inhibition zone diameter of 18 mm. Additionally, administering 400 mg/kg of the extract resulted in a strong inhibition of paw edema, showing a percentage reduction of 42.28% compared to the control group. Similarly, the methanolic extract (600 mg/kg) of Crataegus azarolus showed inhibition of pain caused by acetic acid in mice. The findings of the study propose that the extract has the potential to provide bioactive compounds, and that its individual constituents may act together in a synergistic manner. Therefore, Crataegus azarolus extract could be used as an alternative to synthetic anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds in the pharmaceutical industries in the future.