ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF THE CHLOROFORM EXTRACT OF THE ROOT BARK OF FICUS EXASPERATA ON CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED RAT PAW OEDEMA

Famobuwa OE*, Olabode OO and Akinnifesi TA

ABSTRACT

The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform extract at 375 mg was better than that of the standard, diclofenac at the 1st and 3rd hr after the administration of carrageenan and compared favourably with diclofenac at the 4th hour. Thus the present study has shown that the chloroform extract of the root bark of Ficus exasperata possesses significant anti-oedematogenic effect on foot pad oedema induced by carrageenan and therefore justifies its use in the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions in folklore medicine.

Keywords: Inflammation, Ficus exasperata, Oedema, Chloroform, Diclofenac, Carrageenan.