Background: Extensive use of anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with undesirable side effects often limiting their use. Hence the search for indigenous safer analgesic agent is always going on. It was considered worthwhile to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity of Crocus sativusethanolic extract methanolic fraction (CSEEMF) in animal models.

Methodology: After obtaining permission from animal ethics committee, animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each group like control, standard - Diclofenac 10mg/kg intra-peritoneal or Dexamethasone 0.5mg/kg orally, CSEEMF (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg). Anti- inflammatory activity of stigmas of Crocus sativus was evaluated by using carrageenan induced paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma, formaldehyde induced arthritis in Wistar albino rats and xylene induced ear edema model in Swiss albino mice.

Results: Statistical analysis was done by one way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett’s test. p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001 were considered as statistically significant. CSEEMF (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) revealed anti-inflammatory activity in dose dependent manner in carrageenan induced paw edema model. In cotton pellet granuloma model, CSEEMF (400 and 600 mg/kg P.O) significantly decreased granuloma formation. In formaldehyde induced arthritis model, CSEEMF (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg, intra peritoneally) significantly lowered signs of arthritis. Statistically significant result was also obtained in xylene induced ear edema model with all three test doses however maximum inhibitory results were observed with 600mg/kg dose, when compared with control.

Conclusion: CSEEMF showed promising anti-inflammatory activity in dose dependent manner thus CSEEMF may be beneficial in treating inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity, Crocus sativusethanolic extract methanol fraction, Carrageenan, Paw edema, Xylene.

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