ABSTRACT
The methanol extract of Cleome chelidonii whole plant was investigated for its anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities at the doses of 50; 100 and 200 mg/kg of body weight. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan-induced pedal edema for anti-inflammatory activity; acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate methods to assess antinociceptive activity and yeast-induced hyperpyrexia to evaluate the antipyretic activity. In acute phase inflammation; at dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight after 3 hours treatment with methanol extract of C. chelidonii in carrageenan showed a maximum inhibition of 54.6(P 0.05) when compared with standard drug aspirin (10 mg/kg); which showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 60.6(P 0.01). The methanol extract possesses significant (P 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both paradigms. In rats a significant (P 0.01) reduction in hyperpyrexia was also produced by the extract. This study exhibits that the methanol extract of entire plant of C. chelidonii possesses anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities