Anti-inflammatory effect of Euphorbia hirta in an adjuvant-induced arthritic murine model. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahmad, Sheikh Fayaz; Attia, Sabry M.; Bakheet, Saleh A.; Ashour, Abdelkader E.; Zoheir, Khairy M. A.; Abd-Allah, Adel R. A.
• Is Part Of: Immunological investigations. Volume 43:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 197
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunochemistry -- Periodicals; Cellular immunity -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.3109/08820139.2013.857350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-0139

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Despite extensive research into inflammatory diseases to date, no drugs with favourable safety profiles are available for treatment. <italic>Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta)</italic> is a tree that is locally used as a traditional medicine in Africa and Australia to treat numerous diseases such as hypertension, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential anti-arthritic effects of <italic>E. hirta</italic> in mouse models of adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA). We treated BALB/c mice with (p.o.) <italic>E. hirta</italic> (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) daily (13 days) beginning at the onset of AIA. We examined the effect of <italic>E. hirta</italic> on key mediators of arthritic-inflammation, including pro-inflammatory (IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokines, T-cell activation markers (CD25/CD69), and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80/CD86). We also examined the inflammatory mediators (PGE2 and LTB4) response. <italic>E. hirta-</italic>treated mice showed a substantial reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, down regulated cell activation markers and co-stimulatory molecules, and up regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines<italic>. E. hirta</italic> decreased the levels of inflammatory-mediators in AIA animals. Supplementation with an <italic>E. hirta</italic> extract may be a promising treatment for arthritic and inflammatory diseases.</p> </abstract>