title: Protection against murine endotoxemia by treatment with Ruta chalepensis L., a plant with anti-inflammatory properties.
abstract: The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract of Ruta Chalepensis L. (Rutaceae) on the course of lethal endotoxemia in BALB/c mice was studied. When administered by gavage as 1 g/kg per day starting 14 or 7 days prior to injection of 0.75 mg endotoxin (LPS: lipopolysaccharide), the extract markedly reduced lethality (32.5% in both experiments versus approximately 85% of the control mice). A delay in lethality, but not cumulative lethality, was observed when prophylaxis was given 24 and 1 h prior to LPS challenge. The effect was associated with reduced LPS-induced blood levels of nitrite, an indicator of nitric oxide production. In contrast, the blood levels of tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 did not differ significantly from those of controls given LPS alone. These data show that Ruta Chalepensis L. possesses powerful immunopharmacological properties that make it capable of counteracting the lethal effects of high doses of LPS in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiological and Gynaecological Sciences, Section of Microbiology, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, Catania 95124, Italy. iauk@mbox.unict.it
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iauk
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ragusa
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maiolino
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speciale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D032105:Ruta
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts