OBJECTIVE： To observe the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract from different parts of Tibetan medicine Gentiana straminea. METHODS： Totally 72 male SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided into model group （constant volume of 0.5％ CMC-Na solution）；prednisone acetate group （10 mg/kg）， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from aerial part of G. straminea （10， 30 g/kg）， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （10， 30 g/kg）， with 12 mice in each group. They were given relevant medicine intragastrically twice a day for consecutive 6 times. Fourty minites after last medication， ear-swelling model was induced by evenly smeared with xylene （0.05 mL） on both sides of the right auricle.  Fourty minites after modeling， the ear swelling degree and inhibitory rate of ear swelling of mice in each group were calculated. Grouping was the same as above， and then they were given relevant medicine intragastrically twice a day for consecutive 5 times. Fourty minites after last medication， mice were given 1％ carrageenan 0.9％ sodium chloride solution 0.05 mL subcutaneously via right feet to establish feet swelling model； the feet swelling degree and inhibitory rate of feet swelling of mice in each group were calculated. Sterile cotton balls were planted in groin area of mice under the aseptic condition subcutaneously to establish granuloma model. Twenty hours after modeling， grouping was the same as above， and then they were given relevant medicine intragastrically once a day for consecutive 10 times. Twenty hours after last medication， the cotton balls were removed； the granulation swelling degree and inhibitory rate of feet swelling of mice in each group were calculated. Eighty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal contrd group （constant volume of 0.5％ CMC-Na solution）， model group （constant volume of 0.5％ CMC-Na solution）， prednisone acetate group （7 mg/kg）， aerial part ethanol extract of G. straminea low-dose and high-dose groups （7， 21 g/kg）， ethanol extract of G. straminea underground part low-dose and high-dose groups （7， 21 g/kg）， with 12 rats in each group. They were given relevant medicine intragastrically once a day for consecutive 30 times. After 4 times of intragastric administration， rats were injected with complete Freund’s adjuvant （0.1 mL） into the right hind foot to establish arthritis model. Eighteen hours after modeling， the feet swelling degree and inhibitory rate of feet swelling of rats in each group were calculated； 20 d after modeling， systemic lesion scores of rats in each group were conducted； 24 h after last medication， the weight of thymus， spleen， adrenal gland and body weight were weighed and relevant viscera indexes were calculated. RESULTS： Compared with model group， the auricle swelling degree of mice were decreased significantly in prednisone acetate group， high-dose group of ethanol extract from aerial part of G. straminea， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； inhibitory rates of ear swelling were 67.12％， 27.39％， 19.86％， 54.79％， respectively. Feet swelling degree were decreased significantly in low-dose and high-dose group of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （P＜0.01）； inhibitory rates of feet swelling were 34.63％ and 46.07％. The granulation swelling degree were decreased significantly in prednisone acetate group， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from aerial part of G. straminea， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； inhibitory rates of granulation swelling were 42.52％， 14.02％， 23.36％， 21.50％， 35.58％， respectively. The joint swelling degree of rats were decreased significantly in prednisone acetate group， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from aerial part of G. straminea， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； while systemic lesion score were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with normal control group， thymus， spleen， adrenal indexes of rats were increased significantly in model group （P＜0.01）； compared with model group， viscera indexes of rats were not statistical different in low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from aerial part of G. straminea， low-dose and high-dose groups of ethanol extract from underground part of G. straminea （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： The ethanol extract from aerial part and underground part of G. straminea both have anti-inflammatory effects.