Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Roxithromycin and Erythromycin, Alone and in Combination with Ibuprofen: An Animal Study

Background: Several in-vitro, animal and clinical studies have reported anti-inflammatory activity of macrolides. Antiinflammatory properties of macrolides form the basis for their experimental use in airway inflammatory and infective conditions like asthma Materials and Method: After animal ethics committee approval, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of erythromycin (40 mg/kg) and roxithromycin (20 mg/kg) were evaluated in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and rat tail flick model respectively, in comparison and combination with ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) in albino wistar rats. Results and Interpretation: Both the macrolides were found to have significant anti-inflammatory activity, roxithromycin being slightly more efficacious than erythromycin. Combination with ibuprofen failed to produce improved benefit. Both the macrolides neither showed significant analgesic property alone, nor enhanced analgesic effect of ibuprofen significantly. Conclusion: The macrolides have shown anti-inflammatory activity and a tendency towards analgesic potential; possible mechanisms are discussed. Further studies are required before any recommendations can be made.