EFFECT OF OLEANOLIC ACID ON COMPLEMENT IN ADJUVANT-INDUCED AND CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED INFLAMMATION IN RATS

The present work was aimed at evaluating the influence of oleanolic ac id on complement-related inflammation. In adjuvant-induced arthritis a nd carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats, oleanolic acid was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory and complement-inhibitory activ ities. The intraperitoneal injection of oleanolic acid (60 mg kg(-1), twice a day), before and after Freund's Complete Adjuvant challenge an d thereafter repeated for several days, significantly reduced foot-pad thickness of experimental animal models and simultaneously reduced co mplement activity. Oleanolic acid also produced marked reduction in co mplement levels and inflammatory effects on carrageenan-induced paw oe dema in rats when injected intraperitoneally (60 mg kg(-1), twice a da y).