Background: Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most commonly used to treat inflammation, and shown to have severe side
effects. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects of
Baccharoides schimperi
(DC.) in order to get new
anti-inflammatory agents of natural origin.
Materials and Methods: The aerial part of the plant was dried under shade, ground and extracted with 96% alcohol (BSE). It was further fractionated
in sequence to
n-hexane (BSH), chloroform (BSC) and methanol (BSM) soluble fractions.
Acute toxicity was evaluated by oral administration of plant and hind paw induced-edema method in rats was used for the anti-inflammatory
evaluation.
Results: The BSE was found safe up to the dose level of 3 g/kg b.w. and showed LD
50 value 7.250 g/kg body weight (b.w.) in mice. BSE showed
significant anti-inflammatory effect (62.91%) at 500 mg/kg b.w. Further the
n-hexane, chloroform and methanol fractions of BSE were tested for antiinflammatory
activity. The
n-hexane fraction (BSH) exhibits significant activity (64.87%) at 400 mg/kg b.w. The methanol fraction (BSM) showed
dose dependent activity, highest activity (60.42%) was observed at higher dose 400 of mg/kg b.w. In chloroform fraction (BSC) no significant activity
was observed.
Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that the plant is safe to the experimental model and recommended as a potential source of antiinflammatory
agent.
