Anti-inflammatory activity of flowers of Rhododendron arboreum (SMITH) in rat’s hind paw oedema induced by various phlogistic agents

Abstract

1. The effect of various extracts of flowers of Rhododendron arboreum viz. aqueous, 50% ethanolic and methanolic extracts have been investigated against carrageenan. PG(E2). histamine and 5-HT induced rat's hind paw oedema. 2. The extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against all the four phlogistic agents. Mean changes in the psw volumes revealed the efficacy of extracts against the four phlogistic agents in the following order : Carrageenan > 5-HT > PG(E2) > Histamine. 3. Among the three extracts tested. the acqueous extracts showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity followed by 50% ethanolic and methanolic extracts.