Applying new science for old medicines: targeting leukocyte-endothelial adhesions by antiinflammatory herbal drugs.
During the last two decades, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the various leukocytes and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (cell adhesion molecules - CAMs) involved in cell-cell and cell matrix interactions. This understanding has opened up a new avenue of novel chemotherapeutic targets and bioassay models for inflammatory diseases. Recently developed in vitro bioassays on leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesions can now offer rapid and inexpensive assessment methods for herbal medicines with claimed antiinflammatory uses. Through the use of these robust in vitro methods, active principles of herbal drugs can also be isolated thereby providing the opportunity of standardizations based on a known chemical standard(s) and pharmacology. This review highlights relevant leukocyte/endothelial CAMs targets, available in vitro methods and our strategic approach for herbal standardizations.
Habtemariam
Solomon
S
Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Medway School ofScience, the University ofGreenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK. S.Habtemariam@gre.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts