Effect of Oleanolic Acid on Complement in Adjuvant- and Carrageenan-induced Inflammation in Rats

Abstract
The present work was aimed at evaluating the influence of oleanolic acid on complement-related inflammation. In adjuvant-induced arthritis and carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats, oleanolic acid was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory and complement-inhibitory activities. The intraperitoneal injection of oleanolic acid (60 mg kg−1, twice a day), before and after Freund's Complete Adjuvant challenge and thereafter repeated for several days, significantly reduced foot-pad thickness of experimental animal models and simultaneously reduced complement activity. Oleanolic acid also produced marked reduction in complement levels and inflammatory effects on carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats when injected intraperitoneally (60 mg kg−1 twice a day).