Anti-inflammatory activity of Eryngium maritimum L. rhizome extracts in intact rats.

The administration of rough hydrophilic extract of Eryngium maritimum L. to intact rats inhibits carrageenin induced paw oedema, but it is inactive against cotton pellet granuloma; moreover, the extract does not reduce the weight of thymus, adrenals and spleen. These data show that the anti-inflammatory effect of E. maritimum extract is unlikely to be produced by a steroid-like compound or to be a consequence of adrenal stimulation. Further fractionation of total hydrophilic extract showed that the anti-inflammatory activity is retained by a sub-alkaline fraction.