Methanolic extracts of selected medicinal plants were tested to evaluate in vivo anti-inflammatory and in vitro antioxidant potential. For anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan induced paw edema method was applied using albino rats. The observations were carried out at different doses including 250 ml/kg and 500 ml/kg. The potent antiinflammatory activity was depicted by Viscum album and Withania coagulans at 500 mg/kg dose. Although the extracts showed significant effect at both doses, stronger anti-inflammatory effect was obtained at 500 mg/kg dose. The plant extracts had better anti-inflammatory activity as compared to Diclofenac (50 mg/kg). Using DPPH analysis, the plant extract of Sophora flavescens and Morus nigra showed potential antioxidant effect. Although a potent result was obtained from each methanolic extract but it was significantly different from Vitamin C. Thus, it can reasonably be concluded that these plants showed significant responses against inflammation and oxidation processes and can be further investigated for the isolation of biological constituents.
