Abstract
This study evaluated the phytochemical, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties of a hexane extract from Papaver somniferum L. seeds. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were performed, including spectrophotometric assays to determine the total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and anthocyanin content. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, yielding values of 12.40 mg TE/g DW, 82.48 % inhibition, and 2.95 mg TE/g DW, respectively. In vitro models were applied to determine anti-inflammatory activity (erythrocyte membrane stabilization) and anti-arthritic activity (protein denaturation inhibition), with inhibition percentages above 80 %. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups characteristic of lipophilic metabolites. Despite the hexane limitations as a solvent for polar compounds, the results suggest that the hexane fraction retains significant bioactivity, likely due to lipophilic secondary metabolites. These findings support the therapeutic potential of non-polar extracts from P. somniferum and encourage further study using advanced characterization techniques.
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