The aim of the present study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of whole parts of the plant Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Compositae) on albino rats by carrageenan induced acute inflammation, Formalin induced chronic inflammation and Cotton Pellet-Induced Granuloma respectively. Dried powder plant materials were subjected to sucessesive solvent extraction taking Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Ethanol and triple distilled water. The preliminary phytochemical screening of different extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrate, amino acids & proteins, fixed oil, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids. The different extracts at a dose of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight were subjected to anti inflammation activity. The ethanol and petroleum ether extracts showed significant (p<0.05) anti inflammatory activity in both doses from 1 hour onwards as compared to the standard drug diclofenac sodium, where as aqueous extracts exhibit activity from 2 hours onward as compared to the standard drug amongst various extracts
