title: Anti-inflammatory effect of a methanolic extract of leaves of Dregea volubilis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic extract of Dregea volubilis leaves (MEDV) with its fractions and to delineate the possible mechanism of action for MEDV.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory activities of MEDV along with its petroleum ether and chloroform fractions were evaluated in a carrageenan induced model of acute inflammation. The effect of MEDV on lipopolysaccharide induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages was also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MEDV (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced carrageenan induced paw edema; chloroform fraction was most potent (66%, p<0.001). MEDV was non-toxic up to 125 μg/ml in mouse peritoneal macrophages wherein it (0-100 μg/ml) reduced lipopolysaccharide induced NO production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MEDV possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. Chloroform fraction of MEDV showed best anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Itaura, Chandeshwar, Azamgarh 276128, Uttar Pradesh, India. hossainemdad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emdad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Debjani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Anup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiti
authors.forename: Mitali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Subhash C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Jayanta Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D029062:Apocynaceae; D002351:Carrageenan; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002351:Carrageenan