The pharmacological and pathological studies on Taiwan folk medicine (VIII): The anti-inflammatory and liver protective effects of "mu-mien".

The bark, xylem of stem, and root of (1) Bombax malabarica DC. and (2) Ceiba pentandra GAERTN. are marked as "Mu-mien" in Taiwan. In order to clarify the pharmacological effects of these three parts, anti-inflammatory and liver protective effect were evaluated with carrageenan-induced paw edema and CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The statistical analysis (ANOVA) shows that all of the treatment used exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced edema. Furthermore, the administration of root and xylem of stem of B. malabarica showed the activity even better than indomethacin group did. However, only three used parts of B. malabarica significantly alleviated liver injury induced by CCl4. Meanwhile, the histological changes in rat hepatic tissues such as fatty change, ballooning degeneration, cell necrosis, lymphocytes and Kupffer cells were also observed.