Polyamines: Potential anti-inflammatory agents and their possible mechanism of action

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of exogenously administered polyamines on experimentally induced acute and chronic inflammation in wistar rats and to elucidate their possible mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of polyamines was studied using acute (carrageenin paw edema), sub-acute (cotton pellet granuloma) and chronic (Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis) models of inflammation. The biochemical parameters like liver lipid peroxides, SGOT and SGPT were also measured. RESULTS: Polyamines exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute, sub-acute and chronic models of inflammation. Polyamines treatment inhibited the increase in lipid peroxides in liver and the serum concentration of marker enzymes (glutamate oxaloacetate transferase and glutamate pyruvate transferase) during inflammation. CONCLUSION: Polyamines possess anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammation which can be attributed to their anti-oxidant and /or lysosomal stabilization properties.