J. Chem. Chem. Eng. 8 (2014) 157-162 Anti-inflammatory and Chemical Composition of Two Plants Family Asteraceae Growing in Saudi Arabia Eman Elsharkawy 1* , Mona Alshathly 2 and Mohamed Helal 3 1. Chemistry Department, Northern Border University, Arar, 054, Saudi Arabia 2. Zoology Department, Northern Border University, Arar 054, Saudi Arabia 3. Chemistry Department, Northern Border University, Rafha 054, Saudi Arabia Received: November 05, 2013 / Accepted: November 22, 2013 / Published: February 25, 2014. Abstract: The study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and composition of essential oil of two plant family Asteraceae, Achillea fragrantissima and Lactuca serriola growing under dry desert condition. The anti-inflammatory effect of volatile oil extracted by hydrodistillation of plants was studied using carrageenan induced paw edema. Essential oil (100 mg/kg) and (200 mg/kg) were tested the two plant show high inhibition after 4 h, concentration (200 mg/kg) show high inhibition than (100 mg/kg) after 4 h. Sesqui sabinene hydrate, Azuline and α-Bisabolol are the main constituents of the volatile oil were investigated by capillary GC (gas chromatography) and GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The discussion shows the role of chemical compound azulene in inflammatory inhibition. Key words: Achillea fragrantissima, Lactuca serriola, anti-inflammatory, azulene. 1. Introduction The diversity of medicinal and aromatic plant species and varieties is important from both scientific and practical points of view. In the 21st century, attention is focused on the cultivation and preservation of medicinal and aromatic plants and on the evaluation of their quality. From the earliest times, herbs have been prized for their pain-relieving and healing abilities and today we still rely largely on the curative properties of plants. According to World Health Organization, 80% of the people living in rural areas depend on medicinal herb as primary healthcare system, the herbal formulations can be designed to attack the cancerous cells without harming normal cells of the body [1]. Inflammation is a part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells or irritants. It is * Corresponding author: Eman Elsharkawy, Lecturer, research field: natural product. E-mail: elsharqawyeman@yahoo.com. characterized by redness, swollen joint that is warm to touch, joint pain, its stiffness and loss of joint function. Inflammation is either acute or chronic. Under specific circumstance, it could turn into a chronic state and subsequently become a causative factor in the pathogenesis. Inflammation is a self-defense reaction in its first phase, hence regarded as the main therapeutic target and often, the best choice to treat the disease and alleviate the symptoms [2]. Anti-inflammatory drug, it is a drug, which inhibits or suppresses most inflammatory responses of an allergic, bacterial, traumatic or anaphylactic origin as well as being immunosuppressant. They include the corticosteroids (e.g., betamethasone, fluorometholone, hydrocortisone acetate, loteprednol etabonate, prednisolone, rimexolone and riamcinolone). They are sometimes combined with an antibiotic drug (e.g., betamethasone combined with neomycin or sulfacetamide, dexamethasone combined with neomycin or polymyxin B). Corticosteroids have side effects, such as enhancing the activity of herpes D DAVID PUBLISHING