Antiinflammatory activity of the iridoids kutkin, picroside-1 and kutkoside from Picrorhiza kurrooa

Powdered roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa (PK), its alcoholic extract (AEPK) and active constituents kutkin, picroside‐1 and kutkoside demonstrated antiinflammatory activity (AIA) in a variety of test models. Significant AIA was recorded in adjuvant‐induced and formaldehyde arthritis in rats and mice. In carrageenan‐induced oedema inhibitory activity was remarkably enhanced upon intraperitoneal treatment in rats and mice. Kutkin exhibited significant action in dextran‐induced oedema in rats. It inhibited acetic acid induced vascular permeability in mice and leucocyte migration in rats. Kutkin lacked any analgesic, antipyretic or ulcerogenic effect.