title: In vivo anti-inflammatory activities of Ocimum suave in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ocimum suave has been used in the Ethiopian traditional medicine to relieve pain, fever, inflammation and other disease conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts and some fractions of Ocimum suave in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude extracts were screened for their anti-inflammatory activities on carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema at three dose levels. The butanol and aqueous fractions of the aqueous extract were also evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities using carrageenan, histamine and serotonin-induced mouse paw edema at three dose levels. Normal saline and aspirin were employed as negative and positive control groups, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both ethanol and aqueous extracts significantly decreased carrageenan-induced inflammation at all the three doses used. However, greater paw edema inhibition was observed with the aqueous extract. The two fractions also showed significant reduction of inflammation against inflammatory models in which the aqueous residue exhibited the highest inhibition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the present findings, it can be concluded that the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts as well as butanol and aqueous fractions of Ocimum suave have shown anti-inflammatory properties.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia. birsh_m@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Birhanetensay
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Masresha
authors.forename: Eyasu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makonnen
authors.forename: Asfaw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Debella
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031339:Ocimum; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012701:Serotonin; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D006632:Histamine; D020001:1-Butanol; D002351:Carrageenan