AN INVESTIGATION OF ANTI- INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MALUS SYLVESTRIS FRUITS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

The present study was conducted to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous fruits extract of Malus sylvestris using suitable experimental models. Wister rats were divided into 5 groups of n=6 each using Aspirin (300 mg/kg, p.o) as the standard drug. The Aqueous extract of Malus sylvestris was given at three doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg p.o. in distilled water respectively. Prepared extract was administered orally once daily for 7 consecutive days one hour prior to the administration of 0.1ml carrageenan injection in sub-plantar region. The volume of the rat paw was measured at the end of 7 th day. The present study reveals that the aqueous extract of Malus sylvestris at the doses of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg significantly reduced the carrageenan induced paw edema (P<0.001) at 3hr and 6hr in a dose dependent manner as compared to the vehicle control. Whereas 200mg/kg does not show any significance with that of control. As a result of the foregoing findings, the aqueous extract of Malus sylvestris fruit was found to have considerable anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan induced paw edema but was unable to completely prevent the inflammation.