Evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential of Bergenia ciliata Sternb. rhizome extract in rats

The methanol extract of the rhizome of Bergenia ciliata Sternb. (Saxifragac eae) has been evaluated for anti-inflammatory potential using two acute rat models (carrageenan- and serotonin (6-HT)-induced rat paw oedema) and a ch ronic rat model (cotton pouch-induced granuloma). Phenylbutazone (100 mg kg (-1)), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was used as a standard. The methanol extract (100, 200 or 300 mg kg(-1)) exhibited significant (P < 0. 05) anti-inflammatory activity in all the animal models. At 300 mg kg(-1) t he methanol extract exhibited maximum inhibition of 32.4+/-2.89 % in carrag eenan-induced rat paw oedema while the standard showed an inhibition of 44. 1+/-2.7 % after 3 h of drug treatment. In the serotonin-induced rat paw oed ema model, 300 mg kg(-1) methanol extract suppressed oedema by 45.33+/-2.09 %, whereas the standard produced an inhibition of 53.5+/-4.3 %. In the cot ton pouch granuloma model the methanol extract inhibited significantly (P < 0.001) the granuloma weight in a dose-dependent manner. In this model, 300 mg kg(-1) extract produced a maximum inhibition of 31.4+/-1.09 % in granul oma weight compared with 41.1+/-1.32 % reduction in granuloma weight for th e standard. The methanol extract of B. ciliata exhibited significant anti-i nflammatory potential at the dose levels examined.