Salicylates inhibit PAF-acether-induced rat paw oedema when cyclooxygenase inhibitors are ineffective.

The cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin, piroxicam, ibuprofen, naproxen and flurbiprofen failed to block rat paw oedema induced by PAF-acether, whereas aspirin and sodium salicylate were effective. Two mixed cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors NDGA, BW 755C and dexamethasone reduced oedema in a dose - dependently. The selective PAF-acether antagonist, BN 52021, was effective against PAF-acether at 5 - 20 mg/kg. The lipoxygenase derivates may be involved in paw oedema induced by PAF-acether in the rat and the inhibition produced by aspirin and by sodium salicylate should involve mechanisms other than the cyclooxygenase pathway.