PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF VERBASCUM SINAITICUM GROWN IN JORDAN: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO VALIDATIONS

The study evaluates the phytochemical profile and anti-inflammatory potential of Verbascum sinaiticum from the flora of Jordan, for which essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation.The volatile profile was determined using solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and the chemical composition was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).The essential oil was found to be rich in sesquiterpenes, while the volatile components of the fresh plant material were predominantly non-terpenoid compounds.Five different extracts were prepared from the leaves and flowering buds.The ethyl acetate extract, identified as the most biologically active, was subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), revealing high levels of flavonoids and phenolic compounds.In vitro, the extract significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages.Administered orally to Wistar rats (200 mg/kg), it markedly inhibited formalin-induced paw oedema (p < 0.0001), while also histologically reducing inflammation and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF- and IL-1.These findings support the potential of the ethyl acetate extract from V. sinaiticum as a promising anti-inflammatory agent. RezumatAcest studiu a evaluat profilul fitochimic i potenialul antiinflamator al speciei Verbascum sinaiticum, provenit din flora spontan a Iordaniei, utiliznd uleiul esenial obinut prin hidrodistilare.Profilul volatil a fost determinat prin microextracie n faz solid (SPME), iar compoziia chimic a fost analizat prin cromatografie gazoas cuplat cu spectrometrie de mas (GC-MS).Uleiul esenial s-a dovedit a fi bogat n sescviterpene, n timp ce compuii volatili ai plantei proaspete au fost preponderent non-terpenoizi.Din frunze i muguri florali au fost preparate cinci extracte, dintre care cel n acetat de etil s-a remarcat prin cea mai intens activitate biologic.Analizat ulterior prin cromatografie lichid cu spectrometrie de mas (LC-MS), acesta a evideniat un coninut ridicat de flavonoide i compui fenolici.n testele in vitro, extractul a redus semnificativ producia de specii reactive ale oxigenului (ROS) n macrofagele RAW 264.7.Administrarea oral ntr-un model experimental n care s-au utilizat obolani Wistar (200 mg/kg), a inhibat edemul indus de formalin (p < 0.0001), reducnd totodat inflamaia histologic i expresia citokinelor proinflamatorii IL-6, TNF- i IL-1.Rezultatele susin potenialul extractului etilic din V. sinaiticum ca agent antiinflamator promitor.