title: Kaurenic acid: An in vivo experimental study of its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of kaurenic acid (KA), a tetracyclic diterpenoid carboxylic acid, using in vivo experimental animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory activity of KA was evaluated in rats, using egg albumin-induced paw edema (acute test) and Freund's complete adjuvant-induced paw edema (subacute test), whereas the antipyretic effect was studied in rabbits by peptone-induced pyresis. Acute and subacute toxicity of KA were analyzed in NMRI mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KA showed anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, and the effect caused was significantly dose-related (P < 0.001) in both cases. The mean lethal doses of KA were 439.2 and 344.6 mg/kg for acute and subacute toxicity, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of these findings, it may be inferred that KA has an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potential.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit in Experimental Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Miriam C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sosa-Sequera
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Nelson L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Daló