Antiinflammatory activity and acute toxicity (LD50) of the juice of Kalanchoe brasiliensis (Comb.) leaves picked before and during blooming.

Kalanchoe brasiliensis Comb. (Cassulaceae) extracts from leaves picked before and during plant blooming (extracts 1 and 2, respectively) were tested for their antiinflammatory effect on carrageenin-induced rat paw oedema and for acute toxicity (LD50). Oral doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg of extract 1 significantly inhibited the paw oedema during the first 4 h after injection of 2% carrageenin, while oral doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg of extract 2 had no inhibitory activity on the paw oedema induced by carrageenin. The results indicate an antiinflammatory effect of extract 1 and a proinflammatory effect of extract 2. K. brasiliensis extracts 1 and 2 presented no acute toxicity on mice at the doses of 0.25 to 5 g/kg administered intraperitoneally.