The aerial parts and roots of Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Asteraceae) were investigated for their in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity using the inhibition of Croton oil-induced ear dermatitis in mice. For both of the plant parts, the dichloromethane extract induced a dose-dependent oedema reduction, being more active than the methanol and 70% aqueous methanol ex-tracts. Moreover, the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts was more active than that of the roots (ID50 = 221 and 338 pg/cm2, respectively). Fatty acids make a significant contribution to the anti-oedema activity of the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts, whereas bisabolane sesquiterpenes, tricyclic sesquiterpenes, coumarins and lignans are involved in the activity of the root extract. Two bisabolane derivatives reduced also the polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes accumulation in the inflamed tissue, while a 7a-silphiperfol-5-ene type sesquiterpene and a coumarin derivative inhibited the in vitro chemotaxis of these inflammatory cells.
