Immunopharmacological studies on picrorhiza kurroa Royle-Ex-Benth. Part V: Anti-inflammatory action: relation with cell types involved in inflammation.

Relative importance of various cells involved in inflammation and in anti-inflammatory action of P. kurroa extract (PK) was investigated in albino rats. Effects of chemical depletion of macrophages and polymorphs and a functional deprivement of mast cells and platelets were examined on carrageenin induced pedal inflammation as well as on anti-inflammatory effect of PK treatment in this test. Such depletions/functional deprivements altered the inflammatory response in conformity with the known role of these cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of PK treatment was counteracted at 1 hr, 3 hr and 5 hr post-insult intervals by mast cell, neutrophil and macrophage depletion respectively. Manipulation of platelets was without effect.