Anti-inflammatory evaluation of Ficus racemosa Linn. leaf extract

The anti-inflammatory activity of Ficus racemosa extract was evaluated on c arrageenin, serotonin, histamine and dextran-induced rat hind paw oedema mo dels. The extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg has been found to possess s ignificant anti-inflammatory activity on the tested experimental models. Th e extract (400 mg/kg) exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effect, that is 3 0.4, 32.2, 33.9 and 32.0% at the end of 3 h with carrageenin, serotonin, hi stamine, dextran-induced rat paw oedema, respectively. In a chronic test th e extract (400 mg/kg) showed 41.5% reduction in granuloma weight. The effec t produced by the extract was comparable to that of phenylbutazone, a proto type of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.