Effect of some clinically used proteolytic enzymes on inflammation in rats

The study was designed to investigate the role of three proteolytic enzymes viz., chymotrypsin, trypsin and serratiopeptidase on hind paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma and their possible interactions with aspirin in albino rats. Animals were treated with proteolytic enzymes alone in three different doses or aspirin or in combination with subantiinflammatory dose of aspirin or saline, 30 min before injection of 0.1ml 1% carrageenan. Paw volume was measured before and 3 h after the injection of carrageenan. Chymotrypsin, (5, 18 and 36 mg/kg), trypsin (1.44, 2.88 and 5.76 mg/kg) and serratiopeptidase (0.45, 0.9 and 2.70 mg/kg) were showed dose dependent antiinflammatory activity in acute model of inflammation. Serratiopeptidase showed better antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan induced inflammation than other two proteolytic enzymes and aspirin. However, chymotrypsin and serratiopeptidase were found to be more effective than aspirin in subacute model of inflammation. Chymotrypsin, trypsin and serratiopeptidase possess antiinflammatory activity and exhibit synergistic effect with aspirin in both acute and subacute models of inflammation in rats.