title: Ethanol extract of Justicia gendarussa inhibits lipopolysaccharide stimulated nitric oxide and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in murine macrophage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Justicia gendarussa Burm (Acanthaceae) is a plant used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, the mechanism involved in the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant has not been studied well.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of Justicia gendarussa leaves (J-01) are studied here for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanol extract, J-01 was prepared from the leaves of Justicia gendarussa. The inhibitory effect of J-01 in nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene expressions were studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophage cell line RAW 264.7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  J-01 in a concentration dependent manner (200-50 μg/mL) attenuated NO production from macrophage stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL). Further, J-01 significantly suppressed iNOS mRNA expression in these cells. J-01 has also downregulated the MMP-9 gene expression in LPS stimulated macrophage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modulatory function of J-01 in inhibiting NO, iNOS, and MMP-9 as obtained from the present in vitro studies provide first scientific evidence to support the anti-inflammatory properties of Justicia gendarussa. This plant may have potential use in the management of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, Makali, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: R Sandeep
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vidyashankar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patki
authors.forename: Krishna S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nandakumar
mesh_terms: D027901:Acanthaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9