ABSTRACT
Recently, significant progress has been made through the application of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor- [PPAR-] agonists as anti-inflammatory drugs that are efficacious, relatively free of side effects, and can be used effectively for a long time. The present study was designed to evaluate the dose-response relationship of the anti-inflammatory activity of telmisartan in rat models of chronic inflammation. The study protocol includes four stages: First stage: 48 rats were allocated into eight groups, each containing six rats, for the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of different doses of telmisartan in rat model of formaldehyde-induced chronic inflammation. Second stage: six rats were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of telmisartan [1.5 mg/kg] in combination with dexamethasone [0.5 mg/kg] in the same model. Third stage: 48 rats were allocated into eight groups, each containing six rats, for the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of telmisartan in rat model of cotton pellet-induced granuloma. Fourth stage: six rats were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of telmisartan [1.5 mg/kg] when used as adjuvant with dexamethasone [0.5 mg/kg] in the same model. Telmisartan in a dose-dependent pattern [0.1, 0.2. 0.4, 0.6, 1.5, 3 mg/kg] significantly suppressed inflammation in rat models of formaldehyde-induced chronic inflammation and cotton pellet-induced granuloma. When combined with dexamethasone, telmisartan [1.5 mg/kg body weight] significantly suppressed inflammation in both models, which is significantly higher than all of the effects produced by other approaches of treatment when telmisartan used alone. In conclusion, telmisartan decreased formaldehyde-induced chronic inflammation and cotton-pellet induced granuloma in rats in a dose-dependent pattern. Therefore, it may be considered as a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions in human