Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Laurus nobilis Leaf Extracts Using Solvent Fractionation

Background: Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae), widely known for its culinary and medicinal uses, contains a variety of bioactive compounds. Recent interest has focused on its potential as a natural source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of various solvent extracts of L. nobilis leaves collected from Merahna, Souk-Ahras, Algeria. Methods: Leaves of L. nobilis were collected, identified, and dried before extraction using methanol-water (85:15 v/v). Subsequent fractionation was carried out using solvents of increasing polarity: chloroform, diethyl ether, n-butanol, and ethyl acetate. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed using established protocols, and total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified via the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by the inhibition of albumin denaturation. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and steroids. Among all fractions, the ethyl acetate (AcEt) extract exhibited the highest TPC (214.04 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g dry matter), followed by the butanol and methanol extracts. The AcEt extract also showed significant DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 39.24 ± 0.01 μg/mL), while the aqueous extract was less effective (IC50 = 315.80 ± 0.01 μg/mL). In the anti-inflammatory assay, AcEt extract demonstrated the highest inhibition of protein denaturation (98.28%) with an IC50 value of 65.68 ± 0.42 μg/mL, closely comparable to diclofenac (62.57 ± 0.22 μg/mL). Conclusion: The ethyl acetate extract of Laurus nobilis leaves possesses remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, attributable to its rich phenolic content. These findings support the traditional use of L. nobilis and highlight its potential application in the development of natural therapeutic agents.