Effects of diacerein on the quantity and phagocytic activity of thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages

Diacerein (DAR: 1,8-diacetoxy-9,10-dioxo-dihydroanthracene-3-carboxylic acid) is an anthraquinone drug which displays anti-inflammatory effects in experimental animals and antirheumatic activity in humans. The drug was administered for orally for four consecutive days to mice injected intraperitoneally with thioglycollate. The following dose levels of DAR were used: 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day. At the end of the experimental period the macrophage content of peritoneal exudate was dose-dependent and significantly lower in DAR-treated mice compared with animals that were given saline orally. The macrophages isolated from the peritoneal exudate of mice that received DAR displayed a dose-dependent reduced phagocytosis. The effects of DAR were found to be similar to those of indometacin and dexamethasone, which were used as reference drugs. The ability of DAR to interfere with macrophage functioning may contribute to its overall therapeutic activity.