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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, it may be inferred that KA has an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potential.