Anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory activities of a bioactive alkaloid from the root bark of Plumeria acutifolia Poir

Objective:To investigate the anti-anaphylactic,anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing properties of plumerianine(compound 1)isolated from the root bark of Plumeria acuifolia Poir.Methods:The anti-anaphylactic activity of compound 1(10,25 and 50 mg/kg)was studied by using models such as passive cutaneous anaphylaxis,passive paw anaphylaxis and its antiinflammatory activity against carrageenin induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in albino rats was also investigated using ketotifen and indomethacin as reference drugs.Results:A dose-dependent beneficial effect was observed on leakage of evans blue dye in skin challenged with antigen and on paw anaphylaxis induced by antiserum.The compound 1 also exhibited significant(P<0.01)inhibition of rat paw edema and granuloma tissue formation,including significant protection of RBC against the haemolytic effect of hypotonic solution,an indication of membrane-stabilizing activity.Conclusions:Anti-anaphylactic activity of compound 1 may be possibly due to inhibition of the release of various inflammatory mediators.Anti-inflammatory activity of compound may be related to the inhibition of the early phase and late phase of inflammatory events.