Anti-inflammatory activity of pupalia lappacea L. Juss

Pupalia lappacea (L) Juss is an erect shrub used in folklore medicine to treat bone fractures and in inflammatory conditions. Methanolic extract of aerial parts shown is claimed in traditional medicine that the leaves of the plant are used in the treatment of inflammation. In the present study, the methanolic extract of Pupalia lappacea was screened for its anti-inflammatory activity using carageenan induced rat paw edema egg white induced paw oedema models. The methanolic extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg p.o exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw edema model (p<0.01). In egg white induced model, methanolic extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg inhibited paw oedema significantly (p<0.01) indicating that both test samples inhibit the increase in number of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen and mucopolysaccharides during prostaglandin formation during the inflammation. These experimental results have established a pharmacological evidence for the folklore claim of the drug to be used as an anti inflammatory agent. HPTLC analysis of the extract shows the presence of gallic acid 1.24g/ml, ferulic acid 2.00g/ml, chlorogenic acid 46.25g/ml and rutin 7.02 g/ml of the extract which were responsible for the claimed anti-inflammatory action in the animal models studied.