title: Immunomodulatory effect of bergenin and norbergenin against adjuvant-induced arthritis--a flow cytometric study.
abstract: Bergenin (1), a C-glycoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid, isolated from rhizomes of Bergenia stracheyi (Saxifragaceae) and its O-demethylated derivative norbergenin (2), prepared from 1, are reported to show anti-arthritic activity through possible modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance. Flow cytometric study showed that the oral administration of 1 and 2 at doses of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg per oral dose inhibit the production of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) while as potentiate anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5) in the peripheral blood of adjuvant-induced arthritic balb/c mice. This shows the potential Th1/Th2 cytokine balancing activity of 1 and 2 which is strongly correlated with their anti-arthritic activity. At similar dose levels, the effect of 2 was found to be more than that of 1. The oral LD(0) for 1 and 2 was more than 2000 mg/kg body weight of the mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, J&K, India. nighat52000@yahoo.com.au
authors.forename: Nighat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Surrinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.forename: Mushtaq A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Qurishi
authors.forename: Sachin C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Taneja
authors.forename: Sheikh F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Sarang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.forename: Ghulam N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Qazi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003640:Dealkylation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D031995:Saxifragaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C063922:norbergenin; C006741:bergenin