Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of <i>Atractylis aristata</i> Batt. Aqueous Extract: Anti‐inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Sedative Activities &amp; Phytochemical Profiling

Medicinal plants possess the potential to yield bioactive compounds that offer significant health benefits; positioning them as valuable and promising sources for the development of innovative pharmaceutical products. This study aims to comprehensively assess the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of the plant Atractylis aristata (AEAA) as well as assessments of its phytochemical composition. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of AEAA revealed a variety of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids. In antioxidant assays, AEAA demonstrated considerable activity, with IC₅₀ values of 0.269±0.05 mg/mL for DPPH scavenging and 0.0376±0.003 mg/mL for hydrogen peroxide radical inhibition. AEAA exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.563 mg/mL in the BSA denaturation test. In vivo, AEAA reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema by 56.51 %, in comparison to an 83.58 % reduction with Ibuprofen®. Antibacterial testing showed AEAA's broad-spectrum activity, with the highest inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (34 mm zone of inhibition). Additionally, AEAA induced significant sedative effects, reducing locomotor activity by 48.98 %. These findings underscore the diverse pharmacological potential in addressing oxidative stress, inflammation, microbial infections, and anxiety of A. aristata, which can be attributed to its rich phytochemical profile.