Pharmacognostic, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Rosa x damascena Herrm. Georgian cultivar

Rosa x damascena Herrm. represents one of the most popular and important plants of the Rosaceae family. For ages, rose oil, rose water and extracts from its flowers were used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, and medicine due to diverse pharmacological efficacy. Nowadays, special attention is paid to the valorization of wastes from the rose oil industry in order to fully recover potent biologically active compounds. The present study describes in detail the microstructural features of the flower petals and provides data on chemical composition and biological potency of the aqueous extract of rose oil waste from the R. damascena Georgian cultivar. Up to 25 constituents were detected by HPLC-MS in the extract, and the content of total flavonoids in the extract reaches 2.29%. Amongst them hyperoside is dominating, which content is not less than 1%. Pharmacological evaluation of the extract on "Hot plate" and carrageenan-induced oedema models in mice revealed analgesic (42%) and anti-inflammatory (67%) effects of the extract. As well, the extract revealed antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) strain (IC50 =20.31 µg/mL)