Anti-inflammatory activity of seed extracts of Pongamia pinnata in rat.

Pongamia pinnata is a marsh growing Indian tree. Its seeds are used in febrile and inflammatory diseases in Indian system of medicine. Previous preliminary studies with ethanolic seed extract of this plant had exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect in rat. Different solvent fractionated extracts were evaluated in the present study for anti-inflammatory effect in chemically induced paw inflammation in rats. Anti-inflammatory effects of P. pinnata were best seen against bradykinin and PGE1-induced inflammation. In contrast minimal effects were seen against histamine and 5-HT-induced inflammation. The predominant action of extracts of Pongamia pinnata appears to be a modulation of eicosanoid-events in inflammation.