Anti-inflammatory activity of telmisartan in rat models of experimentally-induced chronic inflammation: comparative study with dexamethasone

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

Anti-inflammatory activity of silymarin in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A comparative study with piromcam and meloxicam

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Silymarin in patients with knee osteoarthritis OA in comparison with piroxicam and meloxicam. A double-blind clinical trial was performed at the Department of Rheumatology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq during the period from October 2004 to September 2005, in which 220 patients 79 males and 141 females with painful knee osteoarthritis were randomized into 5 groups, treated with either silymarin 300mg/day, piroxicam 20mg/day, meloxicam 15mg, or a combination of silymarin with piroxicam or meloxicam. Serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8, and the complement proteins C3 and C4 were assessed at zero time, and after 8 weeks. Silymarin reduces significantly serum levels of IL-1 alpha and IL-8, C3 and C4 after 8 weeks compared to the pre-treatment levels. Piroxicam showed no significant reduction in IL-1 alpha levels, while IL-8 decreased significantly, compared to pre-treatment value. Meloxicam elevates serum levels of IL-1 alpha significantly, while IL-8 did not significantly change compared to the pre-treatment value. Piroxicam or meloxicam produced slight, non-significant increase in serum levels of complement proteins after the 8-week treatment period. Adjunct use of silymarin with piroxicam results in significant reduction in both cytokines IL-1 alpha and IL-8, and serum levels of C3 and C4. However, its adjunct use with, meloxicam did not reveal any significant changes in this respect. Silymarin reduces the elevated levels of interleukins and complement proteins, when used alone, or in combination with NSAIDs for the treatment of knee OA