Anti-inflammatory effects of Podophyllum hexandrum (RP-1) against lipopolysaccharides induced inflammation in mice.

OBJECTIVE

Down-regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced hyper-inflammatory response by non-toxic pharmacological agents acquires paramount importance for countering bacterial sepsis. Anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of Podophyllum hexandrum, a plant well documented in Ayurvedic literature for various therapeutic purposes, was investigated.

METHODS

In vivo studies were performed on Balb/c mice pre-treated with supra-lethal dose of LPS endotoxin (E.coli 055:B5) with or without treatment with P. hexandrum extract (RP-1). Mouse peritoneal macrophage cultures were used to understand ex vivo effects of RP-1 on LPS generated nitric oxide (NO), secretion of IFN-gamma, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Griess assay and sandwich ELISA method were used to quantify inducible NO and cytokines respectively.

RESULTS

Minimal dose of LPS that rendered 100% mortality to mice was found to be 450 microg/kg b.w. Administration of RP-1 (200 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) one hour before lethal LPS treatment (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) rendered maximum (78%) survival. Ex vivo study revealed that RP-1 (50 microg/ml) treatment to peritoneal macrophages inhibited LPS (5 microg/ml) induced nitrite generation to 37%, IFN-gamma secretion to 5%, IL-6 secretion to 50% and TNF-alpha secretion to 50 % of LPS treated control values.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of P. hexandrum.