Anti-inflammatory effect of Euphorbia hirta in an adjuvant-induced arthritic murine model

Immunol Invest. 2014;43(3):197-211. doi: 10.3109/08820139.2013.857350. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Abstract

Despite extensive research into inflammatory diseases to date, no drugs with favourable safety profiles are available for treatment. Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) 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 E. hirta in mouse models of adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA). We treated BALB/c mice with (p.o.) E. hirta (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) daily (13 days) beginning at the onset of AIA. We examined the effect of E. hirta 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. E. hirta-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. E. hirta decreased the levels of inflammatory-mediators in AIA animals. Supplementation with an E. hirta extract may be a promising treatment for arthritic and inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Euphorbia*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Oils / administration & dosage
  • Paraffin / administration & dosage
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Oils
  • Plant Extracts
  • Paraffin
  • paraffin oils