Primary Screening Approach for Anti-Inflammatory Agents Utilizing an In Vivo and a New In Vitro Method

Several classes of standard pharmacological agents (approximately 38 different drugs) including anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, analgesic, immunosuppressive, antihistaminic, autonomic, and CNS agents were tested in the in vivo carrageenin-inflamed rat paw test (Test 1) and in an in vitro test involving their enhancement of the labilization of a purified rat liver lysosomal fraction by N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylazoformamide (Test II). In general, there was good correlation between Test I and Test II results. The relationship of the findings to a screening program for anti-inflammatory agents is discussed.