INTRODUCTION Plant sources play an important role in modern and traditional system of medicine. The noteworthy contribution made by plant medicines to human health has lead to increased popular, official and commercial interest 1 . It has been shown that in addition to the delightful edible fruits, Ficus carica (Fig) are used to lower glucose levels in diabetics and lower the levels of total cholesterol. It has been also used as stomachache. The leaves are added to boiling water and used as a steam bath for painful or swollen piles 2 . The latex from the stems is used to treat corns, warts and piles 2, 3, 4 . Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal Vol. 2(1), 129-132 (2009) Anti-inflammatory effects of hydro-methanolic extract of Ficus carica HUMA ALI 1 *, JITENDER MONGA 1 , LOKENDRA GUPTA 2 , ANIRUDDH SINGH 1 , SAILESH NARAYAN 3 , ZEESHAN A. SIDDIQUI 4 , VEENA BEN TRIVEDI 5 and JANAK AHI 6 ¹Department of Research Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Idgah Hills, Bhopal - 462 001 (India). 2 Government Gandhi Medical College, Hamidia Road, Bhopal (India). 3 Sagar Institute of Pharmacy and Technology, Near Air Port, Bhopal - 462 021 (India). 4 Department of Mathematics & Computer Science BSSS, Bhopal (India). 5 DNA Unit Forensic Science Laboratory Sagar (India). 6 Department of Zoology, Dr. Hari Singh Gaur University, Sagar (India). (Received: April 10, 2009; Accepted: May 17, 2009) ABSTRACT In this article, we report for the efficiency of Ficus carica extract in the treatment against inflammation. The methanolic extract of Ficus carica leaves were investigated for the evaluation of their anti-inflammatory potential on formalin-induced paw oedema in Wister rats. Leaf extract of Ficus carica in dose 200mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 500mg/kg (P < 0.001) on orally administration gave significant reduction of rat paw oedema at all assessment times. The Ficus carica leaf extract showed maximum inhibition of 66.43% at the dose of 500mg/kg after 4 hrs. Where as the standard drug showed 70.78% of inhibition. These observations evealed that Ficus carica has significant anti-inflammatory property. Key words: Antiinflammatory effects, Ficus carica, hydro-methanolic extract. It also has an analgesic effect against insect stings and bites. 4 The fruit is mildly laxative, demulcent, digestive and pectoral. 3, 6, 2 The unripe green fruits are cooked with other foods as a galactogogue and tonic 2. The roasted fruit is emollient and used as a poultice in the treatment of gumboils, dental abscesses etc. 3 Syrup of figs, made from the fruit, is a well known and effective gentle laxative that is also suitable for the young and very old. 5 A decoction of the young branches is an excellent pectoral. 6 The plant Ficus carica has protective action against hepatic dysfunction 7 ,antioxidant 8 and anticancer properties 2 .