Objective: To screen the anti-inflammatory fractions of Gentiana rigescens

and to explore its mechanism. Method: The ear edema model induced by xylene and inflammatory exudates model in the abdominal cavity induced by acetic acid in mice

foot swelling and chest infection model caused by carrageenan in rats were applied to screen the anti-inflammatory effect. The ear edema

inflammatory exudates and foot swelling experiments included the normal group

the model group

the dexamethasone acetate group

the different Fractions of G. rigescens groups. The chest infection experiment included the normal group

the model group

the dexamethasone acetate group

the water and ethanol extract of G. rigescens groups. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms were investigated by detecting the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA)

prostaglandins (PGE2)

tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)

interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in exudates

and the contents of nitric oxide (NO)

PGE2

TNF-α

IL-1β

MDA in lung tissue. Result: Compared with the normal group

the contents of NO

PGE2

TNF-α

IL-1β

MDA increased in the ear edema

inflammatory exudates

foot swelling and chest infection groups (P<0.01). Compared to the model group

the high-and middle-dose water extracts (6

3 g · kg-1) had a significant inhibition on all kinds of animal models (P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the other extraction had a litter or no activity. The water extraction of Gentiana rigescens of all dose groups reduced the levels of MDA

PGE2

TNF-α

IL-1β in exudates(P<0.01)

and reduced the contents of NO

MDA

PGE2

TNF-α

IL-1β in lung tissue significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion: Water fraction may be the anti-inflammatory active site of Gentiana rigescens. The effect may be related to the inhibition of the generation of mediators of inflammation and its antioxidation.