title: Trikatu, an herbal compound as immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis--an experimental study.
abstract: In the present study, trikatu, an herbal compound was evaluated for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties with reference to cell mediated immune responses (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction), humoral immune response (haemagglutination titer and plaque forming assay), macrophage phagocytic index, circulating immune complex and inflammatory mediators in rats. For comparison purposes, indomethacin was used as a reference drug for anti-inflammatory studies. The results obtained in our study showed a significant decrease in cell mediated immune responses, humoral immune responses (haemagglutination titre and plaque forming assay) and macrophage phagocytic index in trikatu treated rats (1000 mg/kg/b.wt.) compared to control animals implying its immunosuppressive property. In addition, significant anti-inflammatory effects were observed in trikatu treated adjuvant induced arthritic rats by a reduction in the levels of circulating immune complexes and inflammatory mediators (TNF-alpha and Interleukin-1beta). Thus, in conclusion, our data suggest that trikatu could be considered as a potential anti-inflammatory agent for treating autoimmune inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis with immunosuppressive property.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Lab, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vachana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murunikkara
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Lab, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: mkr474@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahaboobkhan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasool
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000628:therapy*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010880:Piperidines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C540456:trikatu; D007213:Indomethacin
keywords: Autoimmune disease; Immune response; Inflammatory mediators; Macrophage phagocytic index; Trikatu