The methanolic extracts of the leaves of Jatropha curcas Linn. (Euphorbiaceae), Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (Lamiaceae) and Solanum scabrum Mill. (Solanaceae) were investigated for possible anti-inflammatory activities. The plant extract, suspended in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was orally administered to formaldehydeinduced arthritic mice at a dose of 200mg/kg body weight for seven days. Control mice and standard mice, which were also injected with formaldehyde, were administered 0.5% CMC and 20mg/kg indomethacin respectively for seven days. Inflammation in the mice was assayed by monitoring paw oedema and by measuring the concentrations of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Paw oedema was substantially decreased by the oral administration of the methanolic extracts of J. curcas. O. gratissimum and S. scabrum also decreased the paw oedema but to a lesser extent. Both serum ALT and AST were substantially decreased by J. curcas and O. gratissimum but there was greater reduction of ALT than of AST by both plants extracts. S. scabrum also caused a significant decrease in serum ALT concentration but the serum AST value was only slightly decreased by this plant. These results strongly suggest the presence of strong anti-inflammatory activities in the methanolic extracts of J. curcas and O. gratissimum leaves while S. scabrum probably possesses a moderate anti-inflammatory activity.
