ABSTRACT
Background: Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations are widely prescribed for a wide range of infl ammatory conditions, yet, despite widespread use, there has been no systematic documentation of their safety and effi cacy. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-infl ammatory activity of aqueous extracts of Ajmodadi churna (AJM) in rats. Materials and Methods: Carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and air pouch infl ammation models were used for the study. Results: The extracts showed signifi cant antiinfl ammatory activity, reducing paw edema volume by 0.417 ± 0.097 and 0.379 ± 0.049, respectively. In the carrageenan-induced air pouch model, AJM reduced total leukocyte count by 73.09 ± 7.13 and 62.17 ± 10.53, granulocyte count by 69.48 ± 5.44 and 63.33 ± 4.13, and myeloperoxidase activity by 14.84 ± 0.91 and 18.44 ± 3.18, respectively, compared to controls. Discussion and Conclusion: AJM signifi cantly reduced paw edema, during the second phase of edema development. In the carrageenan-induced air pouch model, AJM inhibited cellular infi ltration into the air pouch fl uid. We conclude that AJM is an effective candidate for prevention or treatment of acute infl ammation.