Physico Chemical Characterization and Anti Inflammatory Activity of Stem Extracts Of Berberis aristata DC and Cosinium fenestratum Linn in Carrageenan Induced Wistar Rats

An initial study on the physico-chemical properties of Berberis aristata and Cosinium fenestratum, both used as Daruharidra by the Ayurvedic drug industry, recorded all the tested parameters within the limits of Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Also, analysis of secondary metabolite of the plants was carried out focusing on the presence and quantification of berberine in the samples. Further, the potential difference in the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous and methanolic stem extracts of the two species was compared using carrageenan induced Wistar rats model. At a dose of 25 mg/kg, the aqueous and methanolic crude extracts of both the plant species showed significant inhibition of rat paw edema at various time intervals viz.,0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes as against the control standard drug indomethacin (p<0.01, p<0.001).

Key words: antiinflammation, Berberine, Berberis aristata, Cosinium fenestratum, Physico-chemical analysis.