Inhibition of In Vitro TNF-a Production by Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. Reinforces Its Anti-Rheumatic and Immunomodulatory Properties

Abstract

In-vivo studies have suggested the anti-rheumatic and immunomodulatory properties of the methanolic extract of the plant Anisomeles malabarica R.Br. However, the mechanism of action of this plant in the modulation of inflammation using the various in vitro models has not been explored earlier. Hence, the current investigation was undertaken to study the anti-rheumatic and immunomodulatory role of aerial parts, leaves and roots in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated signaling in macrophage and mouse connective tissue cell cultures. Itwas observed fromthe present study that by employing tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) bioassay, all the three extracts viz., aerial parts, leaves and roots inhibited TNF-a production in LPS (1 lg/mL) stimulated RAW-32 cells. 38.75 % inhibition of TNF-a was observed at 200 lg extracts of the aerial parts of the plant followed by 17.64 and 14.94 %by the roots and leaves respectively. Taken together, these findings from the present in vitro studies suggest the anti-rheumatic and immunomodulatory properties of the methanolic extracts of A. malabarica.