[Inhibitory effects of Siamese Tinospora crispa extracts on the carrageenin-induced foot pad edema in rats (the 1st report)].

The naturally occurring Tinospora crispa (T.c.) at Chiang Mai in Thailand has been found to inhibit carrageenin-induced foot pad edema. Compared with the control group, oral administration of the 50% methanol extract (10 mg/kg) from its stems inhibited the edema by 38% in volume, which was induced 4 hr after stimulation by carrageenin in rats. This inhibitory effect on edema formation has been most significant in the n-butanol soluble fraction compared with the ethyl ether- or water-soluble ones, and the action of the n-butanol fraction has been observed in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 1 to 30 mg/kg, p.o. Administration of this fraction by the s.c., or i.p. route also inhibited the carrageenin-induced edema formation to the same degree as that by the oral route. The 3 mg/kg, s.c. dosage of the fraction corresponds roughly to 250 mg/kg sulpyrine and 10 mg/kg diphenhydramine, s.c. Moreover, the fraction administered i.v. also reduced LPS-induced fever in rabbits, and had an antagonistic effect equivalent to 100 mg/kg sulpyrine and 1 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride (in i.p.-administration). The comprehensive anti-inflammatory substance(s) contained in T.c. stems are moderately non-polar compounds soluble in n-butanol and absorbable from both walls of the gut and vessels. The usefulness of a modified dosage of this plant extract for clinical treatment of various types of inflammation is highly suggested.