[The antiinflammatory effect of budesonide ointment and cream]

The antiinflammatory effect of topically applied budesonide ointment on carrageenin induced paw edema in rats, croton oil induced ear edema in rats, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats and picrylchloride induced contact hypersensitivity in mice was studied and compared with those of commercially available ointments containing betamethasone 17-valerate, hydrocortisone 21-acetate, hydrocortisone 17-butyrate or fluocinonide. The five ointments had almost the same degree of activity against the carrageenin induced paw edema. Budesonide ointment was strongest in inhibiting the croton oil induced ear edema. Budesonide and fluocinonide ointments were stronger than the other 3 ointments in inhibiting PCA and picrylchloride induced hypersensitivity. No clear atrophic effect on the thymus or adrenal was observed with any of the ointments at the doses tested. When the effect of budesonide ointment was compared with that of budesonide cream, there were no differences in activity between the two formulations. The results suggest that budesonide is a useful drug with a superior topical antiinflammatory activity.