title: Anti-inflammatory activity of Echinacea angustifolia fractions separated on the basis of molecular weight.
abstract: Five fractions of an aqueous extract obtained from the roots of Echinacea angustifolia were separated on the basis of molecular weight. The topical anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions has been evaluated in mice using the Croton oil ear test. The fraction with a molecular weight between 30,000 and 100,000 was the most active in inhibiting the oedema; it also reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The activity of this fraction was comparable with that of a raw polysaccharidic extract obtained from E. angustifolia roots by differential solubility. The high-molecular weight polysaccharides are therefore proposed as the anti-inflammatory principles of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tragni
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tubaro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Negro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Della Loggia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts