Inhibition of mouse ear edema by steroidal and triterpenoid saponins

Certain steroids and triterpenoids isolated from diverse plant families wer e known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. In the course of finding new anti-inflammatory natural products, some steroidal and triterpenoid saponi ns were isolated and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity using i n vivo mouse ear edema tea At the oral dose of 100 mg/kg, several steroidal saponins and triterpenoid saponins such as hederagenin glycosides st-cowed significant inhibition of ear edema (20 similar to 37% inhibition), though less potent than indomethacin and hydrocortisone.