ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF THE IRIDOIDS KUTKIN, PICROSIDE-1 AND KUTKOSIDE FROM PICRORHIZA-KURROOA

Powdered roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa (PK), its alcoholic extract (AEPK ) and active constituents kutkin, picroside-I and kutkoside demonstrat ed antiinflammatory activity (AIA) in a variety of test models. Signif icant AIA was recorded in adjuvant-induced and formaldehyde arthritis in rats and mice. In carrageenan-induced oedema inhibitory activity wa s remarkably enhanced upon intraperitoneal treatment in rats and mice. Kutkin exhibited significant action in dextran-induced oedema in rats . It inhibited acetic acid induced vascular permeability in mice and l eucocyte migration in rats. Kutkin lacked any analgesic, antipyretic o r ulcerogenic effect.