Effect of tranilast oily gel on carrageenin-induced granulation in rats

Tranilast (TL) oily gels consisting of hydrogenated soybean phospholipid an d fatty-acid ester were prepared, and the inhibitor, effect of the gels on the growth of granulation tissue were evaluated in a carrageenin-induced ra t granulation model. By the application of 0.1 and 0.2% TL oily gel, the we ight of granulation tissue was significantly reduced to 64 and 55%, respect ively, of control value. Furthermore, these gels reduced their respective h ydroxyproline content to 64 and 51% of the control. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of 10% TL ointments, which are clinically used for the tr eatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars as hospital preparations, was muc h lower than that of the oily gels. In addition, the application of 0.1 and 0.2% oily gel led to high concentration (0.1% gel, 168 +/- 18 mu g/g; 0.2% gel, 221 +/- 16 mu g/g) of TL in the dermis as compared with the 10% TL oi ntments. These results suggest that TL oily gels may be a useful topical formulation for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.