Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of friedelin isolated from Azima tetracantha Lam. in mouse and rat models.

OBJECTIVES: Friedelin was isolated from Azima tetracantha Lam. leaves collected from Kallakurichi, Villuppuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of friedelin have been investigated in Wistar rats and mice.

METHODS: Friedelin was isolated from the hexane extract of leaves of A. tetracantha using column chromatography. The effects of friedelin on inflammation were studied by using carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema, croton oil-induced ear oedema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and adjuvant-induced arthritis. The analgesic effect of friedelin was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction response, formalin-induced paw licking response and the hot-plate test. The antipyretic effect of friedelin was evaluated using the yeast-induced hyperthermia test in rats.

KEY FINDINGS: In the acute phase of inflammation, maximum inhibitions of 52.5 and 68.7% (P<0.05) were noted with 40 mg/kg friedelin in carrageenan-induced paw oedema and croton oil-induced ear oedema, respectively. Administration of friedelin (40 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) decreased the formation of granuloma tissue induced by cotton pellet at a rate of 36.3%. In the adjuvant-induced arthritis test friedelin inhibited 54.5% of paw thickness. Friedelin inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. Friedelin also produced significant (P<0.05) analgesic activity in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction response and formalin-induced paw licking response. In the hot-plate test, friedelin did not show any significant results when compared with control. Treatment with friedelin showed a significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in pyrexia in rats.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that friedelin possessed potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.