Ethnomedicinal Uses and Antimitotic, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Rubus fruticosus L.

¹ Research Unit in Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Abdelmalek Essaadi University. Al Hoceima, Morocco
² Bioactives and Environmental Health Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
³ Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco
⁴ Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, Fez, Morocco
⁵ Laboratory of Pharmacology, National Agency of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Taounate, Morocco.

Abstract

Rubus fruticosus is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation, infections, and metabolic disorders. This study evaluated the biological activities of its aqueous extract using Allium cepa root assay, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and tail flick analgesic models. In the Allium cepa assay, the extract showed a dose dependent reduction in mitotic index compared to the distilled water control, while colchicine produced a strong positive inhibitory effect. The highest concentration (12 mg/mL) exhibited the greatest antiproliferative activity, approaching that of colchicine at later time points. In the anti-inflammatory model, the extract demonstrated significant dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema over 6 hours, with the 500 mg/kg dose showing higher activity than 250 mg/kg, though less than indomethacin. In the tail flick test, the aqueous extract produced significant analgesic effects, particularly at 250 mg/kg, with maximal latency observed between 45 and 60 minutes. However, its activity remained lower than that of paracetamol. Overall, the findings indicate that R. fruticosus possesses notable antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, supporting its traditional medicinal use. The observed effects may be attributed to bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids and polyphenols. Further studies are required to isolate active compounds and clarify mechanisms of action.