Antiinflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Calea zacatechichi.

Abstract

The inflammatory process involves many biochemical pathways and a variety of mediators [1-5]. Antiinflammatory drugs presently available for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders, have one or more adverse and undesirable side-effects [5,6]. In recent years, active principles of varied chemical structures have been isolated from plants possessing anti-inflammatory activity. Calea zacatechichi Schlecht (Compositae/Asteraceae) grows in fields in southern Mexican and several other countries. It is used in the folk medicine of Mexico for many medical purposes, especially as treatment of various inflammatory diseases: rheumatism, edema and respiratory pathway disorders. Different parts of the plant have been administered when the extremities are cold during fever and for pains in the legs and arms [7]. We only found a single reference related to anti-inflammatory effects for this plant [8]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the aqueous extract of Calea zacatechichi showed anti-inflammatory activity.