EFFECT OF A TOTAL EXTRACT FROM FRAXINUS-ORNUS STEM BARK AND ESCULIN ON ZYMOSAN-INDUCED AND CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED PAW EDEMA IN MICE

This study investigates the total ethanol extract (TE) of the stem bar k of Fraxinus ornus and its constituent esculin (EN). They inhibited c lassical pathway (CP) and alternative pathway (AP) of complement activ ation in mouse serum. After intraperitoneal administration the total e xtract displayed antiinflammatory activity in both zymosan- and carrag eenan-induced paw oedema in mice. The results suggest that the traditi onal use of Fraxinus ornus stem bark extracts in the treatment of infl ammatory disorders is at least partially due to its coumarin constitue nts.