Anti-inflammatory activity of 'TAF' an active fraction from the plant Barleria prionitis Linn.

'TAF' fraction from the methanol-water extract of Barleria prionitis Linn. was evaluated for anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities against different acute and chronic animal test models. It exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against different inflammagens like carrageenan, histamine and dextran. The anti-inflammatory activity in adrenalectomised rats was maintained showing that the effect of fraction 'TAF' is not activated by the pituitary-adrenal axis. Significant anti-arthritic activity was observed in adjuvant-induced polyarthritis test in rats. 'TAF' also showed inhibition of vascular permeability and leucocytes migration in vivo into the site of inflammatory insult.Ibuprofen (Cadilla India Ltd., Mumbai) was used as a standard reference drug. The oral (p.o.) LD(50) was more than 3000mg/kg, with no signs of abnormalities or any mortality observed for 15 days after single-dose drug administration. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) LD(50) was found to be 2530mg/kg (+/-87mg/kg S.E.) [Proceedings of Society of Experimental Biological Medicine 57 (1944) 261].