Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of the fruit of Foeniculum vulgare

Oral administration (200 mg/kg) of Foeniculum vulgare fruit methanolic extract exhibited inhibitory effects against acute and subacute inflammatory diseases and type IV allergic reactions and showed a central analgesic effect. Moreover, it significantly increased the plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level. On the contrary, the malondialdehyde (MDA) (as a measure of lipid peroxidation) level was significantly decreased in F vulgare fruit methanolic extract group compared to the control group (P<0.05). These results seems to support the use of F vulgare fruit methanolic extract in relieving inflammation. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.