ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF FORSYTHIA-SUSPENSA VAHL AND ITS ACTIVE FRACTION

This study was carried out to elucidate the antiinflammatory effect of 70% methanol extract obtained from the dried fruit of Forsythia suspe nsa VAHL and its active principles. F. suspensa was extracted with 70% methanol and freeze-dried to give a powdered extract. The methanol ex tract was then dissolved in water and extracted with n-hexane, and the n-hexane fraction was evaporated to dryness under vacuum; the water f raction was freeze-dried to give a powdered extract. The antiinflammat ory activity of the extract and fractions was investigated on acetic a cid-induced vascular permeability and writhing symptoms in mice, as we ll as on carrageenin-induced edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in rats. The methanol extract and the n-hexane fraction (p. o.) showed the antiinflammatory effect and analgesic effect, but the w ater fraction did not. These results suggested that the antiinflammato ry and analgesic activity induced by the methanol extract shifted to t he n-hexane fraction and the active principles may be lipophilic compo unds.