Effect of Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Norfloxacin on Acute and Subacute Inflammation in Male Wistar Rats – An Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of some fluoroquinolones viz. ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin in their clinically equivalent doses in acute and subacute models of inflammation in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Two models of inflammation were used: 1. Acute inflammation ( carrageenan induced rat paw edema ) 2. Subacute inflammation ( foreign body induced granuloma ) Animals were divided into five groups, each group of six animals received orally either vehicle, standard ( aspirin) or any one of the test drug in clinically equivalent doses. Aspirin was given half an hour before, while ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin were given one hour before carrageenan injection. The rat paw volume was measured with the help of plethysmograph at different hours and percentage inhibition of edema in various treated groups was calculated. In subacute model of inflammation, two sterile cotton pellets weighing l0mg and two sterile grass piths ( 25x2mm ) were implanted subcutaneously, randomly in the axillae and groin, through a small incision under light halothane anaesthesia. The treatment was started on the day of implantation and was repeated every twenty-four hours, regularly, for ten days. On the eleventh day, the rats were sacrificed to obtain cotton pellets and grass piths covered with granulation tissue. Mean granuloma dry weight of cotton pellets for various groups was calculated. The sections of grass piths were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological studies. V Results: All the three fluoroquinolones used in the present study showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute as well as subacute models of inflammation. Conclusion: The present study exhibited anti-inflammatory effects of fluoroquinolones. These findings suggest that fluoroquinolones when given in PID, gonococcal urethritis and tuberculosis by virtue of there anti-inflammatory activity may reduce complications of the disease like tubal stricture, infertility, urethral stricture etc. that occur because of significant inflammation associated with these conditions.