ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF BUPLEURUM-FRUTICESCENS

The essential oil of Bupleurum fruticescens was investigated qualitati vely and quantitatively by GC and GC-MS analyses. The anti-inflammator y activity of the whole essential oil and its major components was als o investigated in the rat hindpaw edema model induced by carrageenin o r by PGE1. The anti-inflammatory activity shown by the essential oil c an be attributed to the two major components, alpha-pinene and beta-ca ryophyllene. In order to know the role of the adrenal glands in the an ti-inflammatory activity exerted by the two major components of the es sential oil, they were studied against the carrageenin-induced hindpaw edema in adrenolectomized rats. It is concluded that alpha-pinene nee ds the integrity of the adrenal glands to exert its anti-inflammatory activity, as opposed to beta-caryophyllene which was also active in ad renolectomized animals.