Selected Indian Medicinal Plants Exhibit Anti‐Inflammatory Activity by Modulating Pro‐Inflammatory Cytokines In Vitro and in Carrageenan‐Induced Rat Paw Edema

ABSTRACT Inflammation is a vital immune response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli, and prolonged inflammation leads to various disorders. Traditional medicinal systems such as Ayurveda offer a rich repository of plant‐based remedies for inflammatory conditions. In this study, 18 medicinal plants were screened for anti‐inflammatory potential using in vitro and in vivo assays. Methanolic extracts and solvent‐partitioned fractions were evaluated for cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1 β , IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor α [TNF‐ α ]), nuclear factor κ B (NF‐ κ B), and COX‐2 inhibition in LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Six promising extracts/fractions were further tested in vivo using carrageenan‐induced rat paw edema model. Extracts of Adenanthera microsperma , Physalis minima , Rhododendron arboreum , Schleichera oleosa , and Volkameria inermis exhibited significant anti‐inflammatory activity in rat paw edema as compared to indomethacin. Marker compounds, quercitrin (1.06% w/w), physalin H (0.101% w/w), hyperoside (0.36% w/w), betulinic acid (0.60% w/w), and acacetin (0.58% w/w), were isolated using column chromatography and confirmed in the respective bioactive extracts/fractions by analytical HPLC using a spiking method. These phytoconstituents have been reported to modulate inflammatory pathways, including NF‐ κ B and MAPK signaling. The study provides experimental validation of traditional claims and highlights these plants as promising candidates for the development of anti‐inflammatory therapeutics.