Anti-inflammatory activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis Linn. and its possible mechanism of action.
Calendula officinalis flower extract possessed significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan and dextran-induced acute paw edema. Oral administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight Calendula extract produced significant inhibition (50.6 and 65.9% respectively) in paw edema of animals induced by carrageenan and 41.9 and 42.4% respectively with inflammation produced by dextran. In chronic anti-inflammatory model using formalin, administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight Calendula extract produced an inhibition of 32.9 and 62.3% respectively compared to controls. TNF-alpha production by macrophage culture treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be significantly inhibited by Calendula extract. Moreover, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL- 1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and acute phase protein, C- reactive protein (CRP) in mice produced by LPS injection were inhibited significantly by the extract. LPS induced cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) levels in mice spleen were also found to be inhibited by extract treatment. The results showed that potent anti-inflammatory response of C. officinalis extract may be mediated by the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and Cox-2 and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis.
Department of Biochemistry, Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur 680 555, India.
Korengath Chandran
KC
Preethi
Girija
G
Kuttan
Ramadasan
R
Kuttan
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020838:Calendula / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2