In vivo studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of pachymic and dehydrotumulosic acids

Pachymic and dehydrotumulosic acids were studied in different models of acute and chronic inflammation. They proved to be active in most of the methods applied. None of them were active against arachidonic acid-induced ear edema. Dehydrotumulosic acid significantly diminished the mouse ear edema induced by ethyl phenylpropiolate, while pachymic acid was ineffective. When the putative corticoid-like mechanism of both compounds was explored, pachymic acid activity was partially abolished by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist progesterone, but dehydrotumulosic acid activity was not affected. In vivo experiments demonstrated the inhibition by both principles of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-induced extravasation. The previous report on the effects of both compounds in vitro against PLA2, together with the present in vivo results, support the idea that the inhibition of this enzyme probably constitutes their main mechanism of action.