Anti-inflammatory effects of the chloroform extract of Pulicaria guestii ameliorated the neutrophil infiltration and nitric oxide generation in rats.

Pulicaria guestii Rech.f. & Rawi is a fragrant, perennial herb, which grows wild, west of Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Several reports were published on the anti-inflammatory activity of the sesquiterpene lactones, phenolics and flavonoids, which constitute the main active constituents of the members of the genus Pulicaria. The present study was designed to explore the potential anti-inflammatory effect of P. guestii in several experimental models. The methanol extract of the dried aerial parts of P. guestii was extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform and n-butanol. The chloroform extract was analysed on TLC and examined under UV and visible light in presence of AlCl(3) spray. The free radical scavenging activity and the total phenolic content in the CHCl(3) extract were estimated. The crude methanol extract and the CHCl(3) fraction were examined against carrageenin-induced paw edema and ear edema induced by croton oil application. The crude methanolic extract significantly reduced carrageenin-induced rat paw edema. After fractionation, the chloroform fraction caused significant reduction in carrageenin-induced rat paw edema in addition to diminishing prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in the inflammatory exudates. Topical application of chloroform fraction significantly reduced rat ear edema induced by croton oil application. In the same model, chloroform fraction reduced neutrophil infiltration, as indicated by the significant decrease in myeloperoxidase activity, and ameliorated histopathological changes induced by croton oil application. In lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in rat air pouch, chloroform fraction significantly reduced the nitric oxide level and tumor necrosis factor-α release. In conclusion, the chloroform fraction of P. guestii extract possesses anti-inflammatory activity in several experimental models. Further investigations are needed to identify the active constituents responsible for this anti-inflammatory activity.