Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-lymphocytic activities of the aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum

The anti-inflammatory, anti-lymphocytic and analgesic properties of Crinum giganteum, a popular herb used for the management of asthma and other respi ratory disorders was investigated in rats and mice. The extract dose-depend ently produced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of formalin induced pain i n rats. It also demonstrated significant (P < 0.01) inhibition of abdominal constriction induced with 0.75% v/v acetic acid in mice. On the cotton pel let induced granulomatous tissue formation in rats, the extract significant ly (P < 0.05) decreased the weight. However, no significant inhibition was observed in the egg albumin-induced inflammation in rats. Oral administrati on of this extract in rats for 14 days significantly affected (P < 0.05) th e total leukocyte count and the overall percentage lymphocytes. The intrape ritoneal and per oral LD50 were 627 +/- 5.8mg/kg and 1486 +/- 18.9 mg/kg in mice and 520 +/- 10.2mg/kg and 1023 +/- 4.3 mg/kg in rats, respectively. P reliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract indicates the presence of tannins. These results therefore indicate that C. giganteum bulb contains b iologically active principles, which have potentials for the treatment of i nflammatory processes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.