Additional evidence for the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic propertiesof the sesquiterpene polygodial

This study evaluates further the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic proper ties of polygodial, a sesquiterpene extracted from the barks plant Drymis w interi (Winteraceae). Polygodial (12.8 - 128.1 mu mol/kg, i.p.) 30 min prio r, inhibited significantly the mouse paw oedema induced by prostaglandin E- 2, bradykinin (BK) substance P (SP), dextran, platelet activating factor (P AF) or carrageenan. Polygodial also inhibited arachidonic acid-, capsaicin- and croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice. Polygodial (42.7 mu mol/kg, i.p ), significantly inhibited both exudation and cell influx when assessed in the pleurisy induced by SP and histamine, and to a less extent the inflamma tory response caused by carrageenan, PAF, BK and des-Arg(9)-BK. Finally, po lygodial (4.2 - 42.7 mu mol/kg, i.p.) produced dose-related inhibition of p aw oedema induced by ovalbumin, protecting in a time-dependent manner the a naphylactic shock induced by endovenous administration of ovalbumin in anim als which had been actively sensitised by this antigen. These and our previ ous results indicate that the major component present in the bark of the pl ant D. winteri, the sesquiterpene polygodial exerts an interesting antiinfl ammatory and anti-allergic properties when assessed in rats and mice. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.