title: TNF-α inhibitory effect of Euphorbia hirta in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae) (E. hirta) is a tree locally used as a traditional medicine in Africa and Australia to treat numerous diseases such as hypertension, respiratory ailments, tumors, and wounds, and it has reported antiallergic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory activities, etc.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the ability of fresh leaves of E. hirta ethanol extract to inhibit the intracellular tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) level in the synovial fluid and neutrophils in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflamed rat knees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Wister albino rats 140-160 g were used. E. hirta ethanol extract was given orally at 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, 2 h before an intra-articular (i.a.) injection of LPS. Two and three hours later, synovial fluid and neutrophils levels of intracellular TNF-α production were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the time course of the experiment, E. hirta maximum inhibition at 100 and 200 mg/kg (p.o.) dose showed 16.5 ± 1.34 and 14.4 ± 1.30% of synovial fluid, 4.26 ± 0.36 and 3.78 ± 0.29% of neutrophils levels of intracellular TNF-α productions at 2 h after LPS injection. LPS control displayed 22.97 ± 1.61 and 6.78 ± 0.34% of synovial fluid and neutrophils levels of intracellular TNF-α at 2 h after LPS injection. Intracellular TNF-α was also estimated at 3 h after LPS injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LPS-injected rat knee model gives a comparative study of acute anti-inflammatory responses. E. hirta inhibition of proinflammatory intracellular cytokine TNF-α production with LPS-induced inflamed rat knee is of great importance in defining the anti-arthritic potential of E. hirta.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. s_fayazahmad@yahoo.com
authors: Sheikh Fayaz
authors: SF
authors: Ahmad
authors: Sarang
authors: S
authors: Bani
authors: Phalisteen
authors: P
authors: Sultan
authors: Sheikh Abid
authors: SA
authors: Ali
authors: Saleh A
authors: SA
authors: Bakheet
authors: Sabry M
authors: SM
authors: Attia
authors: Adel R A
authors: AR
authors: Abd-Allah
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D011239:Prednisolone