Resumo

ZANUSSO-JUNIOR, G et al. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in rodents. Rev. bras. plantas med. [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.1, pp. 17-23. ISSN 1516-0572.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-05722011000100003.

Commonly known as coriander, Coriandrum sativum L. (Umbelliferae) is a home plant grown in several parts of the world, including Brazil. Its leaves and fruits have been used as condiment in cooking and in folk medicine as analgesic, antirheumatic, carminative and cholagogue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oil (EO) and hydroalcoholic extract (HE) from coriander on experimental inflammation models in rodents. Coriander anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by pleurisy tests in rats and ear edema formation in mice. Pleurisy was induced by carrageenan in HE-treated or non-treated animals. The ear edema was induced by topical application of croton oil and the myeloperoxidase activity was evaluated in EO-treated and HE-treated or non-treated mice. In the pleurisy test, HE treatment significantly decreased pleural edema but not the leukocyte migration. Furthermore, differently from EO, the topical use of HE significantly decreased ear edema and cell migration induced by croton oil application. The results indicate that HE had anti-inflammatory activity when orally and topically administered, whereas EO did not present topical anti-inflammatory activity.

Palavras-chave : Coriandrum sativum; inflammation; pleurisy; ear edema; medicinal plants.