A comparison of the effectiveness of some anti inflammatory drugs on thermal oedema

The efficacy of a group of anti inflammatory drugs with similar modes of action was tested on thermal edema in rats. Of these, coumarin and sodium rutin sulfate were most effective. A combination of these, marketed as Venolot, although still beneficial, was not as effective as either given singly. The other drugs tested: levamisole, Reparil and Venoruton, although also of some benefit in treatment of this edema, did not approach the overall effectiveness of coumarin or sodium rutin sulfate. Both drugs are characterized by a very wide safety margin between the therapeutic and the toxic dose. In addition, they are cheap, easy to obtain and can be taken orally. They work by stimulating phagocytosis, enzyme production and thus proteolysis and a subsequent removal of protein and edema fluid from the injured tissues.