Anti-inflammatory effect of methanolic extract of Gmelina arborea bark and its fractions against carrageenan induced paw oedema in rats.

Gmelina arborea has been traditionally used for treatment of abdominal pain, burning sensation and as stomachic. The anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous and methanol extract of this plant has been studied but detailed investigations on anti-inflammatory activity of G. arborea stem bark are still not available. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract and its fractions using carrageenan induced paw oedema model. Methanol extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg and its ethyl acetate fraction at 50 mg/kg showed significant reduction in paw oedema in comparison with standard drug. Ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to column chromatography which resulted in isolation of a new flavonoid (GM-01). Anti-inflammatory effect of methanol extract and its fractions can be attributed to the presence of the flavonoid GM-01. Further studies are underway for evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect of GM-01 and identification of active constituents present in ethyl acetate fraction.