STUDIES ON ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF CASIA-TORA LEAF EXTRACT (FAM. LEGUMINOSAE)

The antiinflammatory effect of the methanol extract of the leaves of C assia tora was investigated against carrageenin, histamine, serotonin and dextran-induced rat hind paw oedema, It exhibited significant anti inflammatory activity against all these agents, The extract (400 mg/kg ) showed maximum inhibition of oedema of 40.33%, 31.37%, 53.57% and 29 .15% at the end of 3 h with carrageenin, dextran, histamine and seroto nin-induced rat paw oedema, respectively. Using a chronic test, the gr anuloma pouch in rats, the extract exhibited a 48.13% reduction in gra nuloma weight. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.