Recently, significant progress has been made through the application of
peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (
PPAR-γ) agonists as anti-inflammatory drugs that are efficacious, relatively free of side effects, and can be used effectively for a long time. The present study was designed to evaluate the dose-response relationship of the anti-inflammatory activity of
telmisartan in rat models of chronic
inflammation. The study protocol includes four stages: First stage: 48 rats were allocated into eight groups, each containing six rats, for the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of different doses of
telmisartan in rat model of
formaldehyde-induced chronic
inflammation. Second stage: six rats were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of
telmisartan (1.5 mg/kg) in combination with
dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) in the same model. Third stage: 48 rats were allocated into eight groups, each containing six rats, for the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of
telmisartan in rat model of cotton pellet-induced
granuloma. Fourth stage: six rats were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of
telmisartan (1.5 mg/kg) when used as adjuvant with
dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg) in the same model.
Telmisartan in a dose-dependent pattern (0.1, 0.2. 0.4, 0.6, 1.5, 3 mg/kg) significantly suppressed
inflammation in rat models of
formaldehyde-induced chronic
inflammation and cotton pellet-induced
granuloma. When combined with
dexamethasone,
telmisartan (1.5 mg/kg
body weight) significantly suppressed
inflammation in both models, which is significantly higher than all of the effects produced by other approaches of treatment when
telmisartan used alone. In conclusion,
telmisartan decreased
formaldehyde-induced chronic
inflammation and cotton-pellet induced
granuloma in rats in a dose-dependent pattern. Therefore, it may be considered as a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions in human.