Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Kokilaksham kashayam on Lipopolysaccharide Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

• Published in: National Academy of Sciences, India. Proceedings. Section B. Biological Sciences India. Proceedings. Section B. Biological Sciences, 2022, Vol.92 (4), p.807-815
• Main Authors: Merlin, Teena, Bashi, M. B., Devi, S. J. Rahitha, Kumar, B. Prakash
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory agents; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cytokines; Dendritic cells; Gene expression; Gout; IL-1β; Immune system; Inflammation; Jaundice; Life Sciences; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Monocytes; Nucleic Acid Chemistry; Plant Biochemistry; Raman spectroscopy; Research Article; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 0369-8211; 2250-1746
• DOI: 10.1007/s40011-022-01370-2

The immune system involves a complex mechanism that operates in an ochestered manner protecting the host against the causative agents of injury. But in pathophysiological conditions, there occurs an unregulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines- tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-1β) by cells like monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Moreover, it is seen that several biochemical components such as lipid, protein, and nucleic acids also show variation in a diseased state. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of Kokilaksham Kashayam (KK) on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. KK is an ayurvedic decoction traditionally used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, jaundice, and anemia but the mechanism of its action in controlling inflammatory conditions has not been explored. The present methodology used involved the quantification of cytokines by ELISA method and gene expression studies by using qRTPCR followed by determining the effect of KK on the cellular changes caused due to LPS stimulation by Raman spectroscopic studies. The study revealed that KK could lower the increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may be due to the downregulation of the genes for TNF-α and IL-1β. The results of Raman spectra further supported the results obtained for LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells pretreated with the fractions of KK. These findings provide scientific validation of the mechanism of action of KK, proving its anti-inflammatory potential. Further identification of the bioactive molecules of the decoction would help to develop newer therapeutic strategies for controlling chronic inflammatory conditions.