ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ANTHURIUM CERROCAMPANENSE CROAT IN RATS AND MICE

Aqueous (AE). ethanol (EE) and dichloromethane (DE) extracts from the whole plant of Anthurium cerrocampanense Croat, endemic to Panama, wer e assayed for antiinflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and croton oil-induced mouse ear edema tests. The extracts were administered i.p, and topically, respectively. The best antiinflammat ory activity in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test: was shown by DE (31% inhibition). which did not show any irritant effect in the peritoneal examination 4 h after administration of the extracts. Furth ermore, the highest activity in the croton oil-induced mouse ear edema test was also exhibited by DE (93% inhibition). Since DE was the most effective of the extracts in both tests, it's activity was assessed i n various inflammation models in rats. At 100 mg/kg, DE markedly inhib ited inflammation produced by dextran (66.6% inhibition) and decreased weakly the edema induced by zymosan A, carrageenan and C-16-platelet activation factor (C-16-PAF) (33.2, 31.6 and 23.8%, respectively). At 50 mg/kg, DE only significantly reduced the swelling caused by dextran (36.2%). No effect was observed at the same doses in arachidonic acid -induced edema. A clear dose-related antiinflammatory activity of DE w as seen in the croton oil-induced mouse ear edema test, and ED50 calcu lated was found to be 25.5 mu g/ear, which was much lower than ED50 ob tained for indomethacin (56.1 mu g/ear). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.