Antiinfl ammatory Activity of Aqueous Extract of Barleria cristata Leaves

Abstract

Barleria cristata linn (family acanthaceae) has been used traditionally for the treatment of variety of diseases including anemia, toothache, and inß ammatory disorders. Due to lack of sufÞ cient scientiÞ c evidence indicating the utility of this plant in the treatment of inß ammation, the present study was aimed at investigating the antiinß ammatory activity of the plant in different experimental screening methods. Antiinß ammatory activity of aqueous extract of Barleria cristata leaves (BCW) at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg was evaluated in acute inß ammatory models against carrageenan induced paw edema in rats, prostaglandins inhibitory activity, and acetic acid induced capillary permeability in mice. Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test P < 0.05 and considered signiÞ cant compared to control. BCW signiÞ cantly inhibited edema induced by carrageenan, inhibited signiÞ cantly prostaglandin activity, and vascular permeability in mice dose dependently. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. It is concluded that, aqueous extract of Barleria cristata Linn leaves exhibited signiÞ cant antiinß ammatory activity.

Keywords: Acute inß ammation; Barleria cristata; prostaglandins; vascular permeability