Mast cell stabilizing and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud. wood oil.

Volatile oil of C. deodara, administered orally at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, significantly inhibited the pedal edema induced by compound 48/80 in rats. The oil significantly inhibited compound 48/80 induced degranulation of isolated rat peritoneal mast cells at concentrations ranging from 25-200 micrograms/ml. C. deodara wood oil also significantly inhibited the enzyme lipoxygenase at a concentration of 200 micrograms/ml. Thus, the anti-inflammatory activity of C. deodara wood oil could be attributed to its mast cell stabilizing activity and the inhibition of leukotriene synthesis.