PADMA-28, a Tibetan herbal preparation is an inhibitor of inflammatory cytokine production.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that PADMA-28, a multicomponent, traditional Tibetan herbal plant preparation possesses a variety of beneficial effects on several experimental models of inflammatory and immune processes, including autoimmune diabetes and autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In humans, PADMA-28 attenuated the symptoms associated with intermittent claudications in atherosclerotic patients.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of PADMA 28 on the immune system, e.g. cytokine (interleukins) production.


METHODS
Cytokine production by human blood monocytes (derived from 12 healthy donors) stimulated in vitro, either by endotoxin (LPS) from Salmonella typhi or by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from group A Streptococci was modulated by PADMA-28.


RESULTS
The present study showed that an aqueous extract of PADMA-28 strongly decreased the production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha, and more moderately, also decreased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 induced by LPS. However, the LTA - induced IL-10 production was [not significantly] increased by the low dose PADMA-28, while not effected at all by the higher dose of PADMA-28.


CONCLUSIONS
The data from these finding suggest a possible clinical efficacy of PADMA-28 either in autoimmune and in inflammatory conditions or in post-inflammatory sequelae, as previously shown in in vivo and human studies, probably by decreasing inflammatory cytokines.
Barak
Vivian
V
Immunology Laboratory for Tumor Diagnosis, Israeli Cytokine Standardization Laboratory, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. barak845@yahoo.com
Kalickman
Inna
I
Halperin
Tal
T
Birkenfeld
Shlomo
S
Ginsburg
Isaac
I
D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C066069:Padma 28