Anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis Linn. was studied in wistar rats using the carrageenan induced left hind paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma model. The ethanolic extract (300 mg/kg, p.o.,) produced the inhibition of carrageenan induced rat paw edema. It also showed reduction on the granuloma weight in the cotton pellet granuloma method. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract produced significant (P<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity when compared with the standard and untreated control. © 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.