Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. I. Vasoprotective and antiinflammatory activity.

A Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides preparation (equivalent to 25% of anthocyanidins) demonstrated significant vasoprotective and antioedema properties in exerimental animals. In rabbits, the skin capillary permeability increase, due to chloroform, was reduced both after i.p. (25--100 mg/kg) and oral administration (200--400 mg/kg) of anthocyanosides. Their activity was more lasting in comparison to rutin or mepyramine and this did not seem to be due to a specific antagonism towards inflammatory process mediators such as histamine or bradykinin. Experiments carried out in rats demonstrated that Vacinium myrtillus anthocyanosides were effective both in skin capillary permeability test as well as on vascular resistance of rats fed a P factor deficient diet. In the former test effective doses were in the range of 25--100 mg/kg (by oral route). In both the animal species investigated, anthocyanosides were two-fold more active when compared to the flavonoid rutin. Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides by oral route inhibited carrageein paw oedema in rats showing a dose-response relationship. An antioedema activity was detected also after i.v. or topical application.