Ambrein, the major constituent of ambergris inhibits oedema responses to carrageenin and serotonin in the rat paw

ABSTRACT

Ambrein, the major constituent of ambergris, reduced paw oedema in rats induced by carrageenin or serotonin [5-HT], when, it was injected intraperitoneally [i.p.] at a dose of 250 mg/kg. This effect of ambrein was compared with some known antiinflammatory drugs such as hydrocortisone, acetyl-salicylic acid [aspirin] and indomethacin [doses were 40, 350 and 100 mg/kg, i.p. respectively]. The results of this study proved, that ambrein possesses an antiinflammatory activity, which was less potent than that induced by the above antiinflammatory drugs in the carrageenin-induced oedema, but was more potent or, at least, equal in potency, in the 5-HT-induced oedema than those caused by the above antiinftammatory drugs. It is concluded that the antiinflammatory activity of ambrein may be due to inhibition of systemically released 5/HT and/or prostaglandins