Anti- Arthrithic and Anti- Anaphylactic Effects of Diethylcarbamazine

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory potential of diethylcarbamazine has been studied in three laboratory models of inflammation namely, carrageenin oedema, adjuvant arthritis and mouse pinnal anaphylaxis: Two standard anti-inflammatory dins, hydrocenid. and indomethacin were used as reference drugs. This study was prompted by the fact that during therapy with the ant filarial drug. diethylcarbamazine, severe inflammation occurs even though diethylcarbamazine, lumazine is reported to be an inhibitor of the release of mediators of inflammation. The results of the study revealed that diethylcarbamazine, like indomethacin and hydrocortisone dose-dependently inhibited the experimentally induced inflammation in all the three models used. Hydrocortisone, the indirectly acting phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, was the most potent in all three models. Indomethacin, acyclo-oxygenase inhibitor was found to be more potent than diethylcarbamazine in carragcenin oedema and adjuvant arthritis but less potent than diethylcarbamazine in the mouse pinnal anaphylaxis model. It was concluded that diethylcarbamazine with its leukotriene C, synthetase inhibitory properties would be a suitable anti-inflammatory agent in inflammations mediated most prominently by the cysteinyl leukotrienes and PAR Asthma is one such inflammation.