This study assesses the effects of compound velutinol A obtained from M. velutina in the rat paw edema induced by several phlogistic agents. Attempts were made to analyze how velutinol A is able to inhibit kinin B(1) receptor-mediated inflammatory responses. Velutinol A (100 nmol/paw) partially reduced (about 30%) the edema evoked by carrageenan (300 microg/paw). However, velutinol A (100 nmol/paw) failed to affect the edema induced by histamine (200 nmol/paw), substance P (30 nmol/paw), PAF (10 nmol/paw) or BK (3 nmol/paw). Interestingly, the edema caused by the selective kinin B(1) receptor agonist des-Arg(9)-BK (100 nmol/paw) in animals pre-treated with PAF or LPS was significantly inhibited by velutinol A (100 nmol/paw) (48 and 46%, respectively). A similar inhibition of des-Arg(9)-BK-induced edema after pre-treatment with PAF was obtained with the non-peptidic and selective B(1) receptor antagonist SSR 240612 (60 nmol/paw) (46%). In addition, the systemic administration of velutinol A (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or SSR 240612 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) also caused a significant reduction of des-Arg(9)-BK (100 nmol/paw)-induced edema in PAF-treated rats (51 and 43%, respectively). The results provide convincing evidence that velutinol A selectively blocks the edema responses mediated by B(1) receptor activation in vivo. This compound might represent a new non-peptidic and selective antagonist for kinin B(1) receptors.