%0 Journal Article
%T <i>Sphaeranthus indicus</i>: Traditional Wisdom to Modern Medicine¡ªAn Orally Active, Potent Cytokine Inhibitor for the Management of Inflammatory Disorders
%A Jacqueline Trivedi
%A Firuza Kharas
%A Sapna Parikh
%A Roda Dalal
%A Aurelio Lobo
%A Lyle Fonseca
%A Mahesh Jadhav
%A Shruta Dadarkar
%A Asha Almeida
%A Ankita Srivastava
%A Ashish Suthar
%J Pharmacology & Pharmacy
%P 106-116
%@ 2157-9431
%D 2016
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/pp.2016.72014
%X Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-¦Á) is a key regulator of the inflammatory and tissue destruc-tive pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The clinical success of anti-TNF-¦Á and an-ti-IL-17 biologics has validated the concept that cytokine blockade is beneficial in RA. However, as these drugs are parenterally administered, our efforts are directed at identifying a novel orally active TNF-¦Á inhibitor with a therapeutic profile similar to that of biologics. Since plants are natural immunomodulators, we explored the immunomodulatory potential of Sphaeranthus indicus extract. In our studies, the extract dose-dependently inhibited the release of cytokines in stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), and their spontaneous release in synovial cells derived from patients suffering from RA. TNF-¦Á and IFN-¦Ã induced release of p40 subunit of IL-12/ IL-23, and p19 subunit of IL-23 in differentiated THP-1 cells is potently blocked. The expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in TNF-¦Á-stimulated HUVECs was also potently inhibited. The oral treatment significantly and dose-dependently reduced LPS-induced TNF-¦Á and IL-1¦Â production in mice. Disease regression was seen in collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice, which was validated along with radiological and histopathological evaluation. Therefore, the extract of Sphaeranthus indicus could be used in the management of inflammatory conditions.
%K Sphira
%K Rheumatoid Arthritis
%K Psoriasis
%K Cytokine Inhibition
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=63677