Plants have been used as an alternative remedy for the treatment of various ailments since ancient times. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the Anaphyllum wightii  were studied. The prevention of hypotonicity induced HRBC membrane lysis was taken as a measure of the anti inflammatory activity. The anti inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract was comparable to that of the standard drug Diclofenac sodium. The ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Anaphyllum wightii has significant anti inflammatory activity in comparison with the  aqueous extract of the same plant.