AN EVALUATION OF ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF MUCHAKUNDA FLOWER (PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM WILLD) IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent potential sources for the discovery of new anti-inflammatory agents. Petroleum ether, Methanolic and Aquous extracts of Muchakunda (Pterospermum acerifolium Willd) were evaluated in vivo for their anti-inflammatory activities on carrageenan-induced paw oedema in Wistar albino rats. Some of the phytochemicals found in the extracts have previously been implicated as anti-inflammatory agents. The LD50 of the extracts were investigated and found to be greater than 5000mg/kg. The Methanolic and Aquous extracts at doses 500 mg/kg showed modest anti-inflammatory activity. The aqueous extract demonstrated better inhibition of paw oedema compared with the methanolic extract at 500mg/kg after 4hrs. The activity of the standard drug, indomethacin at 10.0 mg/kg was significantly higher (p< 0.05) than those of the extracts. The results suggest that Muchakunda (Pterospermum acerifolium Willd) flower possess anti-inflammatory activity and will be useful in the search for novel anti-inflammatory agents.