Objective and design: Ebselen, an organoselenium compound is able to modulate the inflammatory response in rodents. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of diaryl diselenides and ebselen was studied.
Materials: Adult male Wistar rats and albino mice were treated with diaryl diselenides and ebselen in different doses.
Methods: Carrageenin-induced paw edema, tail-flick, formalin, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and capsaicin models of pain were carried out. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range when appropriate.
Results: In all models, the most promising profile was displayed by diphenyl diselenide, which produced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity significantly higher than ebselen. Diphenyl diselenide also produced dose-dependent antinociception when assessed in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, tail-flick test or formalin and capsaicin-induced nociception.
Conclusion: The data presented here provide evidence that administration of diphenyl diselenide produced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity.