beta-escin and Pleurisy

Escin, a natural mixture of triterpenoid saponins isolated from the seed of the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), had been demonstrated to possess anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to investigate whether escin exhibits synergistic anti-inflammatory effects when combined with glucocorticoids. The carrageenan-induced paw edema and pleuritis in bilaterally adrenalectomized rats were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of escin and glucocorticoid alone or combined. The carrageenan-induced paw edema was inhibited only when escin and corticosterone (Cort) were administered together. Co-administration of escin with Cort significantly reduced the volume of exudates and the number of white blood cells of exudates in bilaterally adrenalectomized rats with pleuritis, but treatment with escin or Cort alone at a suboptimal concentration did not show any effect on the pleuritis rats. After the murine macrophagic RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), they were treated with escin, Cort or escin and Cort. Then nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) of cell culture supernatants were analyzed. Escin or Cort markedly reduced the content of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The combination of suboptimal concentrations of escin with Cort, which alone could not markedly inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, inhibited the secretion of NO, TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The findings suggest escin can synergize with glucocorticoids to enhance their anti-inflammatory effect.

Topics: Aesculus; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Edema; Escin; Glucocorticoids; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-1beta; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide; Pleurisy; Random Allocation; Rats; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

In order to complete previous results of the efficacy of the horse chestnut saponin escin, its activity was tested on two further models of inflammation: the rat serous peritonitis provoked by i.p. injection of formalin solution, and the rat serous pleurisy provoked by intrapleural injection of Evans Blue/carrageenan. The results showed escin to be an anti-exudative substance with regard to its exudation inhibitory effect determined by the reduction of exudative fluid. As to peritonitis the diminution of protein permeation into the abdominal cavity was determined: with increasing doses escin tended to prevent more efficiently the diffusion of small molecules than the permeation of large molecules. The hypothesis that escin has an effect on the vascular walls in the sense of a "sealing" effect on the capillaries was tested on the following model: the permeability of the plasma-lymph barrier of the hind leg of the rabbit was enhanced by injection of bradykinin. Escin antagonised the bradykinin effect dose-dependently determined by the depression of the raised lymph-flow by about 70%.

Topics: Animals; Aspirin; Bradykinin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Escin; Exudates and Transudates; Female; Hydrocortisone; Inflammation; Male; Peritonitis; Phenylbutazone; Pleurisy; Rabbits; Rats; Saponins; Time Factors

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Membrane Permeability; Escin; Peritonitis; Pleurisy; Rats; Saponins