ANTIINFLAMMATORY AND RADICAL SCAVENGE EFFECTS OF ARCTIUM-LAPPA

The effects of Arctium lappa L, (root) on anti-inflammatory and free r adical scavenger activity were investigated. Subcutaneous administrati on of A. lappa crude extract significantly decreased carrageenan-induc ed rat paw edema. When simultaneously treated with CCl4, it produced p ronounced activities against CCl4-induced acute liver damage. The free radical scavenging activity of its crude extract was also examined by means of an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. The IC50 of A . lappa extract on superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenger activity was 2.06 mg/ml and 11.8 mg/ml, respectively. These findings suggest th at Arctium lappa possess free radical scavenging activity. The inhibit ory effects on carrageenan-induced paw edema and CCl4-induced hepatoto xicity could be due to the scavenging effect of A. lappa.