THE PHARMACOLOGY OF CRAIBIODENDRON STELLATUM: ANTIPHLOGISTIC EFFECT AND ACTION ON ADRENAL FUNCTION

The root of Craibiodendron stellatum (Pierre) W. W. Sm. (family Ericaceae.) has been used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in folk medicine in Yunnan. The alcoholic extract of the root administered orally 0.5 g per kg, reduced the swelling of the ankle joint of the rat hind leg caused by injection of egg-white; it also caused depletion of ascorbic acid in rat adrenals. The LD₅₀ for mice after oral administration of the extract was found to be 5.62 ± 0.42 g per kg, the chief symptom before death being convulsion.