Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus mugo needle extract in experimental acute inflammation

Pinus mugo Turra is a conifer species traditionally used in European folk medicine for the management of inflammatory conditions. Experimental evidence supporting its biological activity remains limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of an ethanolic extract of P. mugo Turra needles in an experimental model of acute inflammation, using both therapeutic and prophylactic approaches. Phytochemical characterization by HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS revealed a polyphenol-rich profile characterized by flavonols, flavanols, and hydroxybenzoic acids. In vitro assays demonstrated free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing capacity, and nitric oxide scavenging potential. In vivo, acute inflammation was induced by intramuscular administration of turpentine oil in Wistar rats. The extract significantly attenuated oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced levels of lipid, protein, and DNA oxidation markers, including malondialdehyde, total oxidative status, oxidative stress index, 3-nitrotyrosine, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, and advanced oxidation protein products, while enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, reflected by increased total antioxidant capacity and total thiol levels. Furthermore, the extract reduced circulating inflammatory mediators, namely nuclear factor kappa B, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-18, in a concentration-dependent manner, with the highest dose exhibiting effects comparable to reference treatments. Multivariate principal component analysis further supported these findings by demonstrating treatment-associated shifts in biomarker clustering toward a non-inflamed profile, particularly under prophylactic administration.