Background & objectives: Inflammatory processes are a recognized feature of atherosclerotic lesions. Ranolazine inhibits the inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukins-1 and -6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of anti-inflammatory activity of ranolazine in acute and sub-acute models of inflammation in rats and compare the same with that of control (gum acacia 1%) and aspirin (standard anti-inflammatory drug). Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (150-180 g) were used for the study. They were divided into three groups (n=6). One per cent gum acacia (control), aspirin (200 mg/kg body weight) and ranolazine (180 mg/kg body weight) were given orally. Acute inflammation was induced by injecting carrageenan in the left hind paw. Paw oedema volume and percentage inhibition were measured. Subacute inflammation was induced by implanting foreign bodies subcutaneously. Percentage inhibition of granuloma dry weight and haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of granulation tissue were studied. Results: In acute and subacute model study, ranolazine significantly ( P <0.01) decreased the paw oedema volume and granuloma dry weight as compared to control and it was comparable to that of aspirin and histopathological sections showed a decrease in granulation tissue formation as compared to control. Interpretation & conclusions: Ranolazine demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and subacute models of inflammation and needs further evaluation for its use in reducing atherosclerosis.

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