Effects of escin on acute inflammation and the immune system in mice

Pharmacol Rep. 2009 Jul-Aug;61(4):697-704. doi: 10.1016/s1734-1140(09)70122-7.

Abstract

Escin has been used extensively to treat chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, and edema resulting from cerebral ischemic damage, trauma or operation. However, no studies have looked at the anti-inflammatory properties of escin administered by intravenous injection, and it is still not clear whether escin has an effect on the immune system. This study seeks to investigate the time-dependent anti-inflammatory properties of escin and its effect on the immune system. The anti-inflammatory effect of escin was observed in carrageenan-induced paw edema and acetic acid-induced capillary permeability in mice. The immunopharmacological effects of escin were evaluated by spleen index (SI), thymus index (TI), proliferative capacity of splenocytes (PS), lymphocyte count (LC), serum TNF-alpha levels, and phagocytic rate (PR) in mice. Escin treatment showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect, similar to that seen with dexamethasone treatment. However, the duration of the anti-inflammatory response was longer with escin treatment than with dexamethasone treatment. The results also demonstrated that escin had no significant effects on SI, TI, LC, PS, TNF-alpha levels, and PR. The findings suggest that escin is a potent anti-inflammatory drug with long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects and without any immunosuppressive effects.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Edema / immunology*
  • Edema / pathology
  • Escin / pharmacology*
  • Escin / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation Mediators / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Phagocytosis / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Escin