SUPPRESSION OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND MEDIATORS VIA THE INHIBITION OF THE NF-κB IN LPS-INDUCED RAW 264.7 MACROPHAGE CELLS BY PURIFIED TERPENOID EXTRACT FROM HYPNEA MUSCIFORMIS (WULFEN) J V LAMOUROUX.

Abstract

Sea weeds utilization originates from Chinese Materia medica and are traditional local medicine used to treat multiple disorders including acute and chronic inflammation. Knowledge on sea weeds biological activity underlying its mode of anti-inflammation action is not yet traced to prove its value for pharmacological and clinical usage. Prostaglandin (PGs) play crucial role in the induction of the inflammatory reactions and is over expressed in the inflamed or injured tissues. This study presents evidence to justify the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory usage of terpenoid extract from Hypnea musciformis. The methanolic extract of the red algae was purified by silica gel column and was fractionated by TLC and GC-MS. The analysis of the purified fraction of H. musciformis revealed the presence of 8 major peaks of terpenoids compatible with their fragmentation patterns. The major terpenoids noticed were eicosane, heneicosane, 2- pentadecanone, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, n-hexadedcanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, heptadecanoic acid,methyl ester , 11- octadecanoic acid, metyl ester. Purified terpenoid extract of H. musciformis obviously decreased the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In addition, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity and nitric oxide (NO) content were inhibited substantially. The molecular mode underlying these effects is through the down regulation of NF-κB and iNOS expressions coupled with other inflammatory mediators like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Thus, the present data provided biochemical evidences that purified terpenoid extract mitigates inflammatory related pain disorders by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators.