Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of selected legumes from Pakistan: in vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2.

Crude methanolic extracts of selected legumes namely, black gram (Vigna mungo L.), green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek ), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were investigated for anti-inflammatory effects, using COX-2 producing PGE(2) inhibitory assay. Percentage inhibition observed was 73.93, 79.84, 92.17 and 74.47 for black gram, green gram, soybean and lentil respectively at 20μg/ml extract concentration. The 100μg/ml concentration showed increase in the percent inhibition except for soybean. This is the first report on COX-2 inhibitory potential of food legumes.