sapogenins and Granuloma

The mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of papyriogenin A and C, obtained from Tetrapanax papyriferum, were investigated by the following methods; the cotton pellet granuloma test in normal and adrenalectomized rats, the blockade by anti-glucocorticoids of vascular permeability caused by serotonin in mice and the competition on 5 beta-reduction of steroidal compounds. The anti-inflammatory activity was observed in the decreasing order; papyriogenin C greater than papyriogenin A on the carrageenin-induced paw edema in mice, as reported in our previous paper. In a serotonin-induced paw edema, pretreatment with progesterone (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) blocked completely the anti-inflammatory effects of papyriogenin A or C at 10 and 50 mg/kg. When actinomycin D (1 and 2 mg/kg) or cycloheximide (6 mg/kg) was given twice, simultaneously with papyriogenin A or C, during the latent period for the manifestation of the anti-inflammatory effect, the anti-inflammatory effects of papyriogenin A and C were blocked completely by s.c. administration. The effects of papyriogenin A or C, 30 mg/kg p.o., on the cotton pellet granuloma test in adrenalectomized rats were similar to those of normal rats. On the other hand, the competitive effects of papyriogenin A and C on 5 beta-reduction of testosterone and cortisol were recognized to be significant. These activities of papyriogenin A and C are explained by their steroidal actions in the target cell and their competitive effects in endogenous corticoid metabolism in liver.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Capillary Permeability; Cycloheximide; Dactinomycin; Granuloma; In Vitro Techniques; Liver; Male; Mice; Oleanolic Acid; Progesterone; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; RNA, Messenger; Sapogenins; Serotonin

Effects of saikosaponin d extracted from Bupleuri Radix on the antigranulomatous action of glucocorticoid were investigated in rats by the cotton pellet method. Saikosaponin d (0.1 mg/kg/day x 4 days) and dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg/day x 4 days) reduced the weight of cotton-induced granuloma to 89.58% and 88.54% of the control, respectively. These antigranulomatous actions failed to show a significant difference from the control. However, the combined administration of saikosaponin d and dexamethasone produced a significant antigranulomatous action, namely, the decrease in the weight of granuloma to 62.5% of the control. While the combination of saikosaponin d and dexamethasone showed an inhibitory trend against the increase in serum triglyceride as induced by dexamethasone, the cholesterol level was elevated by the combination. The body weight was significantly reduced by the combined administration as compared with the group treated with dexamethasone alone, but no apparent difference existed in the adrenal and thymus weights between them.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Dexamethasone; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Granuloma; Injections, Intramuscular; Lipids; Male; Oleanolic Acid; Organ Size; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sapogenins; Saponins

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Migration Inhibition; Edema; Granuloma; Histamine Release; Oleanolic Acid; Rats; Sapogenins; Saponins

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Capillary Permeability; Edema; Female; Granuloma; Oleanolic Acid; Plants; Rats; Sapogenins; Saponins