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Anti‐inflammatory effects of andrographolide: inhibition of the release of cytokines relevant to asthma
Author(s) -
AbuGhefreh Ala'a A.,
Canatan Halit,
Ezeamuzie Charles I
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.755.2
Subject(s) - andrographolide , andrographis paniculata , in vivo , pharmacology , inflammation , drug , dexamethasone , medicine , asthma , immunology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , in vitro , proinflammatory cytokine , allergic inflammation , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , pathology , alternative medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
Andrographolide ‐ the major active principle of Andrographis paniculata , has been credited with anti‐inflammatory effects. The possibility that the drug may affect asthmatic inflammation has not been explored. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the ability of andrographolide to inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines both in vitro in mouse peritoneal macrophages and in vivo in allergic inflammation in a mouse asthma model. The drug significantly inhibited LPS‐induced TNF‐α and GM‐CSF release from mouse macrophages. The IC 50 values were 0.6 μM for TNF‐α and 3.3 μM for GM‐CSF, and maximal inhibitions were 77% and 94%, respectively. The drug was as efficacious as dexamethasone, but about 10 times less potent. The effect correlated with reduced expression of mRNA for the two cytokines. In the in vivo study in allergic mice, the drug significantly inhibited allergen‐induced elevation of TNF‐α and GM‐CSF in the bronchial fluid and nearly abolished the influx of lymphocytes and eosinophils. These results provide evidence that andrographolide is an effective anti‐inflammatory drug with the potential to be used for the treatment of asthma as well as other inflammatory diseases.