It has become apparent in recent years that many centrally active agents possess potential anti-inflammatory capabilities. The central or peripheral mechanisms of action for these agents have not been delineated nor has their clinical efficacy baan established or refuted. The centrally active drugs, cryogenine and tetrabenazine (a benzoquinolizine derivative), previously have been shown in this laboratory to inhibit certain models of induced inflammation. The present study in rats verifies the anti-inflammatory properties of cryogenic and established that a structurally related series of benzoquinolizine derivatives possessed the capability of inhibiting both exudative (carrageenan-induced pedal edema) and proliferative (cotton pellet granuloma) models of inflammation when administered orally
