Investigation of the anti-inflammatory and synergistic activities of bulbus Fritillariae ussuriensis and xuehua pear using acute inflammatory models

Abstract

The combination of the bulb of Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim. (Bulbus Fritillariae ussuriensis, BFU) and the fruit of Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. (Xuehua pear, PBR), as folk medicine, is widely used in treatment with respiratory disease. In this study, three acute inflammatory models were used to estimate the anti-inflammatory activities and cooperative interactions of them. The data were dealt with the Tallarida's improved contouring method and the Q value method to evaluate the cooperative interactions of BFU and PBR more directly. All the treated groups showed well preventive effects on xylene-induced mouse auricular edema, acetic acid-induced mouse vascular permeation and carrageenin-induced rat paw edema in a dose-dependent manner. Combination of BFU and PBR (CBP) exhibited a higher inhibitory effect than the additive effect of individuals. These results indicated that BFU and PBR both had good antiinflammatory effects and the combination of them had synergistic effects on acute inflammation, which may support and supplement the civilian utilization of Bulbus Fritillariae and Fructus Pyri in treatment with the respiratory tract diseases, just like pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, etc.