Anti-inflammatory activty of Clerodenron capitatum (Willd) Schum. and Thonn.

Clerodendrum capitatum (Willd) Schum. and Thonn., an erect or scrambling shrub commonly grown in Africa, is used traditionally in treating oedema and rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves was investigated using carrageenan-, histamine- and serotonin-induced paw oedema in rats and xylene induced ear oedema in mice. Significant dose dependent inhibition was observed in the carrageenan model with peak inhibition at 150 mg/kg (60.3%, 120 min). In the histamine and serotonin models, the extract caused significant inhibition of 60% and 34.5% at 60 min., respectively. For the xylene model, the extract showed significant inhibition (56.60%) at 150 mg/kg. The results validate the use of the leaves in the traditional treatment of inflammation.