TOPICAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF THE MAJOR LIPOPHILIC CONSTITUENTS OF THE RHIZOME OF ZINGIBER CASSUMUNAR .1. THE ESSENTIAL OIL

The essential oil of the rhizome of Zingiber cassumunar was found to e xhibit a topical antiinflammatory effect, when tested using the model of carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats (ID50 = 22 mg oil/paw). Individual assessment of topical antiinflammatory activity of the five major components of the oil demonstrated that (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphe nyl)butadiene (DMPBD), terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpinene significantly inhibited edema formation, whereas sabinene and gamma-terpinene were inactive up to 6 mg/paw. The most active compound, DMPBD, was found to be an antiinflammatory agent twice as potent as the reference drug di clofenac (ID50 = 3 vs 6 mg/paw, respectively).