EVALUATION OF ANTI-RHEUMATIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT OF STEM BARK OF FICUS BENGALENSIS

Ficus bengalensis Linn (Moraceae) commonly known as Banyan tree or Bargad. It possesses exhorbant medicinal properties and is used in ayurveda for diarrhea, diuretic, as a hypoglycemic and as anti-inflammatory agent.The analgesic and anti rheumatic activity of the methanolic extract of the bark of Ficus bengalensis (MFB) were studied at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg (i.p) using the Freund’s Complete Adjuvant induced arthritis model, the Formalin induced arthritis model and the Agar induced arthritis model. The extract produced marked inhibitory effect on edema especially on secondary immunological arthritis and caused graded inhibition of both phases of Formalin- induced pain. Thus the present study validates the traditional use demonstrating that the methanolic extract of bark of Ficus bengalensis possesses dose –dependent anti-rheumatic activity in all the models with a possibility of acting through the central and peripherally mediated activities.