Anti-inflammatory properties of rose oxide

Abstract

Rose-oxide is a fragrance found in roses and rose oil. There are no reports about the pharmacological activity of this molecule. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether rose-oxide (RO) has anti-inflammatory properties and to investigate possible mechanisms involved with its effects. The anti-inflammatory activity of RO was first suggested by the formalin test in mice, an inflammatory pain model, because intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of RO (50 and 100 mg/kg) inhibited only the late phase of this test. To further investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of RO, the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)- and carrageenan-induced paw inflammation models were used. Pre-treatment with RO (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced paw edema at 4, 6 and 24 h after the CFA injection. In addition, RO (100 mg/kg) reduced the IL-1β, but not TNF-α, local production induced by CFA. Administration of RO (25–100 mg/kg) decreased the paw edema induced by carrageenan in rats, which was more evident at 3 and 4 h after induction. In addition, neutrophil migration to the hind paw was measured by MPO assay after the carrageenan injection. The MPO activity was significantly inhibited by RO at 25–100 mg/kg, 4 h after stimulus. In another experimental set, administration of RO (25–100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the leukocyte migration in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis model in mice. The results described here are the first report of pharmacological properties of RO and strongly suggest that RO possesses anti-inflammatory activity related to its ability to inhibit the IL-1β production and the leukocyte migration.