Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of sitagliptin and vildagliptin in mice

•10 mg sita- and 1–10 mg vildagliptin decreased ear edema.•1–10 mg sitagliptin had anti-inflammatory effect.•1 and 10 mg sitagliptin provided analgesic effect.•Both gliptins were effective in neutrophil accumulation.•Vildagliptin failed to affect mechanical touch sensitivity.•1–3 mg sita- and vildagliptin inhibited plasmaextravasation.

To validate the potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic role of sita- and vildagliptin, five different experimental models were used in mice: i) mustard oil-induced ear edema, ii) neutrophil accumulation, iii) mechanical and iv) thermal touch sensitivity in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis and v) capsaicin-induced plasma extravasation in the urinary bladder. For the complete examination period in i) the dose of 10 mg sitagliptin as well as 1–10 mg vildagliptin was found to significantly decrease ear edema as compared to positive control (p < 0.05, n = 8/group). All doses of sitagliptin provided an anti-inflammatory effect p < 0.005 (n = 10/group) in test ii) and an analgesic effect in iii) except 3 mg. Vildagliptin was similarly effective in test ii) (p < 0.005, n = 10/group) as sitagliptin, but it failed to affect mechanical touch sensitivity. Unlike mechanical touch sensitivity, both gliptins could beneficially act on the thermal threshold (p < 0.05, n = 10/group). And only in tests v) could both gliptins reverse inflammation. Further studies are needed to support the suggestion that the utilization of these beneficial effects of gliptins may be considered in the treatment of Type 2 diabetic patients.