RESUMO
Aims: The study aimed to phytochemically investigate the n-butanol soluble fraction of Indigofera hirsuta aerial parts and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the fraction using laboratory animal models. Study Design: Isolation and elucidation of the bioactive compounds and antiinflammatory activity investigation on n-butanol soluble fraction. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria - Nigeria. The study was completed between January-October, 2011. Methodology: The compounds isolated were identified using different spectroscopic techniques. The n-butanol fraction was investigated for its effect on carrageenan-induced oedema in rat’s experimental model. Results: Two Flavonol glycosides were isolated; Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (T2) and Kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (Q3).The fraction significantly (P = .05) inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw oedema at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg tested. The percentage anti-inflammatory effect of the highest dose tested (300 mg/kg) at the peak hour was higher than that of ketoprofen (10 mg/kg), the standard anti-inflammatory agent. Conclusion: The result of this research suggests that the n-butanol soluble fraction of Indigofera hirsuta aerial parts contains bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity.