Anti-inflammatory activity of compound D {(E)-4-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-ol} isolated from Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.

Compound D, (E)-4-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-ol, is one of many compounds found in the hexane extract of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. The anti-inflammatory activity of compound D was assessed using various inflammatory models in comparison with aspirin, indomethacin and prednisolone. The results obtained showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of compound D mediated prominently on the acute phase of inflammation. It exerted marked inhibition on carrageenin-induced rat paw edema as well as on the exudate formation, leukocyte accumulation and prostaglandin biosynthesis in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy. Compound D possessed only slight inhibition on both primary and secondary lesions of adjuvant-induced arthritis and had no effect on cotton pellet-induced granuloma. Compound D elicited analgesic activity when tested on acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice but had weak inhibitory activity on tail flick responding to radiant heat. Compound D possessed marked antipyretic effect when tested on yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats.