Anti-inflammatory activity of the epimers of N-propyl 20 xi-dihydroprednisolonamide.

The epimers of a steroid carboxamide, N-propyl 20 alpha- and 20 beta -dihydroprednisolonamide, were evaluated for their local and systemic effects on granuloma formation, pituitary-adrenal function and liver glycogen content in rats. When the carboxamides were administered locally, the 20 beta-epimer exhibited greater activity than the 20 alpha-epimer in suppressing cotton pellet granuloma formation. Neither epimer had suppressive effects on thymus weight and plasma corticosterone levels at the dose level used. When the carboxamides were administered systemically, they were pharmacologically inactive. Furthermore, in acute pharmacological studies, the carboxamides neither increased tyrosine aminotransferase activity and glycogen deposition in the liver nor decreased plasma corticosterone levels and relative thymus weight.