Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: The present study was carried out to determine the, anti-inflammatory activity of petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria woody stems using animal models. The air-dried, powdered woody stems (900 g) were extracted in Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether and methanol. The crude dried petroleum ether extract (12 g) and methanol (18 g) were prepared containing doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, and subjected to anti-inflammatory (carrageenan- and histamine-induced paw edema test) assays. The results obtained indicate that the extract possessed significant dose dependent anti-inflammatory activity. This study showed that the petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Wrightia tinctoria woody stems possess potential pharmacologically active constituents capable of inhibiting inflammation.

Key words: apocynaceae, anti-inflammatory, carrageenan, histamine