Abstract: AIM: To study the anti-inflammatory effect of total flavonoids in Chrysanthemum morif olium Ramat and the mechanism. METHODS: The auricle edema was induced by dimethylbenzene, the abdominal cavity capillary permeability was increased by HAc, the edema in feet was induced by carrageenan in mice, and the air-pouch acute inflammation induced by carrageenan in rats were applied in anti-inflammatory experiments. The anti-inflammatory effect of total flavonoids in different models were observed, then the content of the protein, the amount of white blood cell(WBC), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂)and malonaldehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD)were determined. RESULTS: Total flavonoids could inhibit the capillary permeability and the engorgement of inflammatory texture, decrease the total protein content in efflusion and the amount of WBC, reduce PGE₂ and MDA contents and increase SOD activity. CONCLUSION: The mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action of total flavonoids are related to the depression of vasopermeability, reduction of inflammatory mediators and augmentation of oxygen free radical scavenging capacity and anti lipid peroxidation.

Key words: Chrysanthemum morif olium Ramat, total flavones, anti-inflammatory effect