Abstract

The ether fraction obtained from dry fruit of Cornus officinalis was investigated for the anti-inflammatory action, acute toxicity and central nervous system activities. From several pharmacological examinations, it was found that the ether fraction suppressed considerably carrageenin edema at the dose of 600mg/kg p.o. in rats, inhibited the granuloma formation in rats as given 100mg/kg p.o. for 7 days and decreased the swelling of both of complete adjuvant injected and noninjected (contralateral) paws of the rats at the dose of 100mg/kg p.o. given for 14 days. The $LD_{50}$ of the fraction are estimated to be more than 2,000mg/kg p. o. and 642mg/kg i. p. in mice. And the fraction did not show any sedative, stimulative, analgesic and anticonvulsant action but exhibited hypothermic action. These results might be concluded that the ether fraction of Corni fructus showed anti-inflammatory action in both of acute and chronic type models without any considerable central nervous depressant activity and exhibited very weak acute toxicity in mice.

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