[Anti-inflammatory activity of copper and zinc p-cresol dihydrate]

Using rat paw dextran-induced and carrageenan-induced edemas, the antiedematous activities of dihydrate of diaquatetrakis(p-cresotato)dicopper(II) complex (CupC) and diaquabis(p-cresotato)zinc(II) complex (ZnpC) were assayed plethysmometrically. Dihydrate of diaquabis(salicylato)copper(II) complex (CuS) and diaquabis(salicylato)zinc(II) complex (ZnS) were used as standards of comparison. All compounds were applied i.p. in a single dose of 50 mumol/kg body weight (calculated for the RCOO-fragment) 30 min before injecting the irritant. The antidextran/anticarrageenan activities of the species (expressed as a mean edema reduction) were found: CupC 46/74%--ZnpC 50/26%--CuS 71/52%--ZnS 63/10%. The relationships between the coordination-chemical properties and the biological effects of the corresponding complexes are discussed.