The possible role of β-2
adrenergic receptors in modulation of inflammatory and nociceptive conditions suggests that the β-2
adrenergic receptor agonist,
salbutamol, may have beneficial anti-inflammatory and
analgesic effects. Therefore, in this study, we induced inflammatory and nociceptive responses with
carrageenan-induced paw
edema or cotton-pellet-induced
granuloma models, both of which result in oxidative stress. We hypothesized that
salbutamol would prevent inflammatory and nociceptive responses by stimulating β-2
adrenergic receptors and the prevention of generation of ROS during the acute
inflammation process in rats. Both doses of
salbutamol used in the study (1 and 2 mg/kg) effectively blocked the acute
inflammation and inflammatory nociception induced by
carrageenan. In the cotton-pellet-induced
granuloma test, both doses of
salbutamol also significantly decreased the weight of
granuloma tissue on the cotton pellets when compared to the control. Anti-inflammatory and
analgesic effects of
salbutamol were found to be comparable with those of
indomethacin.
Salbutamol decreased
myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid peroxidation (LPO) level and increased the activity of
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and level of
glutathione (GSH) during the acute phase of
inflammation. In conclusion,
salbutamol can decrease acute and chronic
inflammation, possibly through the stimulation of β-2
adrenergic receptors. This anti-inflammatory effect may be of significance in
asthma treatment, where
inflammation also takes part in the etiopathology. This study reveals that
salbutamol has significant antioxidative effects, which at least partially explain its anti-inflammatory capabilities. These findings presented here may also shed light on the roles of β-2
adrenergic receptors in inflammatory and hyperalgesic conditions.