Anti-inflammatory effects of Podophyllum hexandrum (RP-1) against lipopolysaccharides induced inflammation in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Down-regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hyper-inflammatory response by non-toxic pharmacological agents acquires paramount importance for countering bacterial sepsis. Anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of Podophyllum hexandrum, a plant well documented in Ayurvedic literature for various therapeutic purposes, was investigated.


METHODS
In vivo studies were performed on Balb/c mice pre-treated with supra-lethal dose of LPS endotoxin (E.coli 055:B5) with or without treatment with P. hexandrum extract (RP-1). Mouse peritoneal macrophage cultures were used to understand ex vivo effects of RP-1 on LPS generated nitric oxide (NO), secretion of IFN-gamma, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Griess assay and sandwich ELISA method were used to quantify inducible NO and cytokines respectively.


RESULTS
Minimal dose of LPS that rendered 100% mortality to mice was found to be 450 microg/kg b.w. Administration of RP-1 (200 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) one hour before lethal LPS treatment (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) rendered maximum (78%) survival. Ex vivo study revealed that RP-1 (50 microg/ml) treatment to peritoneal macrophages inhibited LPS (5 microg/ml) induced nitrite generation to 37%, IFN-gamma secretion to 5%, IL-6 secretion to 50% and TNF-alpha secretion to 50 % of LPS treated control values.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of P. hexandrum.
Prakash
Hridayesh
H
Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Brig. S. K. Mazumdar Marg, Delhi, India.
Ali
Arif
A
Bala
Madhu
M
Goel
Harish Chandra
HC
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011035:Podophyllum; D027343:Rhizome; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts