Antiinflammatory potency of dehydrocurdione, a zedoary-derived sesquiterpene.
OBJECTIVE
Dehydrocurdione, a sesquiterpene isolated from zedoary, was tested for in vivo and in vitro antiinflammatory actions.


METHODS
Analgesic effect was tested in ICR mice by the acetic acid-induced writhing method. Antipyretic effect was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with baker's yeast. Antiinflammatory activities were tested in Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced paw edema and adjuvant-induced chronic arthritis. In vitro analyses included the capabilities to inhibit cyclooxygenase activity, and to scavenge free radicals as determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).


RESULTS
Oral administration of dehydrocurdione (40 to 200 mg/kg) mitigated the writhing reflex. induced by acetic acid and the fever elicited by baker's yeast. A higher dose (200 mg/kg) of dehydrocurdione was required to inhibit the carrageenan-induced paw edema. Oral administration of dehydrocurdione at 120 mg/kg/day for 12 days significantly reduced chronic adjuvant arthritis. Unlike indomethacin (IC50: 0.1 microM), dehydrocurdione showed minimal cyclooxygenase inhibition. However, dehydrocurdione (100 microM to 5 mM) significantly reduced free radical formation from hydrogen peroxide and ferrous iron determined by EPR spectrometry using 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as a spin trap agent.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to the well-known effect of zedoary as a stomachic, dehydrocurdione, the major component of Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe has antiinflammatory potency related to its antioxidant effect.
Yoshioka
T
T
Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, School of Medicine, Japan. yoshioka@research.twmc.ac.jp
Fujii
E
E
Endo
M
M
Wada
K
K
Tokunaga
Y
Y
Shiba
N
N
Hohsho
H
H
Shibuya
H
H
Muraki
T
T
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D002351:Carrageenan; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C117943:dehydrocurdione; D002351:Carrageenan; D019342:Acetic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin