Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract fractions of Barleria prionitis L. roots

Barleria prionitis L. (Acanthaceae) roots paste is used traditionally in the treatment of swelling and boils. In the present study roots were extracted successively to obtain various extracts. These extracts were screened for anti-inflammatory activity using caragennan induced rat paw edema at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg orally. The aqueous extract was found most active, it was then fractionated into four major fractions (FR) and were screened by the same tests. Result showed that, at a dose of 400mg/kg FR-III & IV showed significant (**P<0.01) with 50.64% & 55.76% inhibition of edema respectively at the end of 4 h. as compared with reference drug indomethacin (**P<0.01) with 60.25% inhibition of edema. Aqueous extracts fractions showed significant dose dependant anti-inflammatory activity in rat model