Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Cassia fistula Linn bark extracts

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant activities of the aqueous (CFA) and methanolic extracts (CFM) of the Cassia fistula Linn. bark were assayed in wistar albino rats. The extracts were found to posses significant anti-inflammatory effect in both acute and chronic models. Cassia fistula bark extracts showed significant radical scavenging by inhibiting lipid peroxidation initiated by CCl4 and FeSO4 in rat liver and kidney homogenates. Both extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity in DPPH, Nitric oxide and Hydroxyl radical induced invitro assay methods. Both extracts showed Dose-Dependent protective effect against lipid peroxidation and free radical generation in liver and kidney homogenates. Further, the acute toxicity study with the extracts showed no sign of toxicity up to a dose level of 2000 mg/ po. Thus it could be concluded that cassia fistula bark extracts (CFA & CFM) possess significant antiinflammatory and anti oxidant properties. Key Words: Cassia fistula, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant activity. Afr. J. Trad. Comp. Alt. Med. , 2005, 2 (1): 70-8