Anti-inflammatory activity of Crinum asiaticum plant and its effect on bradykinin-induced contractions on isolated uterus

Crinum asiaticum Linn plant is used in Malaysia as a rheumatic remedy and t o relieve local pain. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammato ry effects of this plant extract on carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema in mice. C. asiaticum was serially extracted with petroleum ether, followed by chloroform and lastly, methanol. The chloroform and methanol extracts of t he plant given orally (50 mg kg(-1)) caused significant (p < 0.05; n = 7) r eduction in paw oedema but the petroleum ether extract did not induce signi ficant effect (p > 0.05) on paw oedema. The methanol extract was then disso lved in water and extracted consecutively with chloroform, ethyl acetate an d butanol. The chloroform fraction of methanol extract (CFME) treatment (50 mg kg(-1)) significantly reduced (p < 0.05; n = 7) the acute paw oedema. T his may indicate that active anti-inflammatory compounds are present in the CFME, In an attempt to study the mechanism of action of its anti-inflammat ory activity, the effects of CFME on BK- and histamine-induced contractions were investigated in isolated rat uterus and guinea-pig ileum preparations , respectively. It was found that CFME caused dose-dependent reduction (p < 0.05; n = 6) of the contractile response induced by BK and shifted the log dose-response curve of histamine to the right. The present findings sugges t that C. asiaticum possessed an anti-inflammatory activity as suggested by its use in traditional medicine. The anti-inflammatory activity of this pl ant could not have been due to its anti-bradykinin activities as CFME non-s pecifically inhibited BK-induced contraction. It also suggest that CFME may contain compound(s) with anti-histaminic properties. The significance of t hese findings is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.