The antiinflammatory activity of twelve medicinal plants used against skin disorders were tested in different experimental models of topical inflammation and one in vitro inhibitory test against phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) from Naja naja venom. Forsythia suspensa was the most active species on the arachidonic acid (AA) topical test. This last species together with Astragalus membranaceus and Ranunculus sceleratus were the most active on the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) acute ear oedema test. Scrophularia auriculata was the most active on multiple topical applications of TPA and on the oxazolone-induced delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Santolina chamaecyparissus was the only species that inhibited PLA 2 in vitro.