Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of extract of Vernonia Amygdalina

ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of Vernonia amygdalina (V.A).MethodsInflammatory response was induced by topical application of croton oil dissolved in suitable vehicle on the rat ear. After 6 hrs, cutting out the ear quantitated the response. The cut ear was weighed and the increase in weight relative to control group was evaluated.ResultsWhen co-applied with croton oil to the rat ear extract of V.A. produced a reduction in the inflammatory response when croton oil alone was applied to the rat ear. The extract produced (69.1±2.0)% reduction of the inflammatory response produced by croton oil alone, lower than the reduction of the inflammatory response produced by acetyl salicylic acid (71.1±2.0)%].ConclusionsThis finding suggests that extract of V.A. exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and may explain the usefulness of the leaves of this plant in the treatment of inflammatory disease conditions by traditional healers.