Abstract

Borassus flabellifer L. (Arecaceae) had been widely used for its reported biological activities in indige-nous system of medicine. The present investigation was carried out to find the effect of ethanolic extract of male flowers (inflorescences) ofBorassus flabellifer for its anti-inflammatory activity in ro-dents. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using acute inflammatory models like; carrageenan-induced paw oedema and chronic models like; cotton-pellet induced granuloma and carrageenan-induced air-pouch model in rats. The biochemical parameters like serum glutamate pyruvate trans-aminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), lipid per oxidation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also estimated as supportive studies. Oral administration of the extract at the doses 150 and 300 mg/kg b.w. exhibited dose dependent and significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute (carrageenan- induced hind paw oedema, p < 0.0001) and chronic (cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan-induced air-pouch models, p < 0.0001) of inflammation. The extract also showed signi-ficant (p < 0.0001) results for biochemical parameters. Hence, present investigation established some pharmacological evidences to support the folklore claim that B. flabellifer L. is used as anti-inflammatory agent.

Key words: Borassus flabellifer L., inflorescences, male flowers, anti-inflammatory, ethanolic extract, SGOT, SGPT, lipid per oxidation, ALP.