Abstract

Background: Various inflammatory mediators are involved in initiating and sustaining pain/inflammation cascade. Recently, leukotrienes (LTs) have been shown to be important mediators in pain and inflammation.

Aims and Objective: An experimental evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of LT receptor antagonist-montelukast.

Materials and Methods: Wistar rats of either sex weighing 180-250 g and Swiss mice weighing 25-30 g were used. Analgesic activity of montelukast (20 mg/kg) was evaluated and compared with tramadol (10 mg/kg) and aspirin (300 mg/kg) using tail flick response method and acetic acid-induced writhing method. For evaluating anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenin-induced rat paw edema and formalin-induced arthritis models were used. The antipyretic activity was evaluated in Baker’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.

Results: Montelukast (20 mg/kg) had significant analgesic activity compared to control in acetic acid-induced writhing model but was ineffective in tail flick model. Montelukast showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenin-induced paw edema and formalin-induced arthritis models. Montelukast did not show antipyretic activity.

Conclusion: Montelukast shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity which needs substantiation.

Key words: Montelukast; Tail Flick Method; Acetic Acid-induced Writhing