In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice

AIM: To study the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male albino mice. METHODS: Aqueous decoction and methanol leaf extracts were tested for their ability to reduce croton oil-induced edema in the mouse ear after topical application. The methanol leaf extract dose-dependently inhibited the croton oil-induced ear edema in mice (ID50 <500 mu g.cm(-2)). A bioassay-guided liquid liquid fractionation of this methanol extract gave four active fractions: water insoluble (F1), hexane (F2), ethyl acetate (F3) and water (F4). RESULTS: The hexane fraction showed a very high activity (42.1% inhibition at 0.7 mu g.cm(-2)) as compared to the control. The other fractions were less active (F1: 56.1% at 506.2 mu g.cm(-2); F3: 57.3% at 289.3 mu g-cm(-2); and F4: 31.9% for 203.8 mu g.cm(-2)) while indomethacin gave 48.8% of inhibition at 90 mu g.cm(-2). The activity of F1 and F3 may be at least in part explained by the presence of anti-inflammatory flavonoids, while the activity was not correlated to the tannin contents. No compounds were detected in the most active F2 fraction. CONCLUSIONS: The results give a rational support to the traditional use of T divaricata in tropical India as anti-inflammatory agent.