Justicia secunda Leaf Aqueous Fraction Suppressed NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and COX-2 in Arthritic Rat

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluated the effect of the aqueous fraction of Justicia secunda Vahl leaves on selected inflammatory markers Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor–kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its possible mechanism of action.
 Study Design: J. secunda aqueous leaf fraction (JSALF) was tested on carrageenan, arachidonic and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) induced rat paw inflammation models, respectively.
 Methodology: Ninety male albino rats (Wistar strain) were randomly distributed into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Group I: normal, administered with 1 mL NaCl, Group II: untreated control, no treatment, Group III: administered with 10 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) diclofenac sodium (reference drug), Group IV, V, and VI: administered with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.wt. J. secunda leaf aqueous fraction (JSALF), respectively. TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6 and COX-2 levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was carried out.
 Results: JSALF treated animals had significantly (P < .05) suppressed carrageenan, arachidonic and CFA-induced paw edema when compared with untreated control animals. Serum levels of TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6 and COX-2 were significantly reduced (P < .05) in JSALF-treated animals. GC-MS detected 10 suspected anti-inflammatory compounds.
 Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that J. secunda aqueous leaf fraction substantially suppressed pro-inflammatory mediators and COX-2 pathways in arthritic rats which justifies its folkloric use in the management of inflammatory diseases.

Elevated Levels of Gonadotrophic Hormones and Antioxidant Biomarker in Male Rats Following Administration of Hydromethanol Leaf Extract of Justicia secunda in Response to 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine Induction

“…They concluded that PHZ-induced haemolytic anaemia stimulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-2 and interferon-γ, which might play a role in the immune response to haemolysis. Furthermore, in this study, the hydromethanol extract of J. secunda caused a significant decrease in TNF-α, which is in correlation with a report by Kings-Ogbonna and Anyasor,[ 24 ] which reported there was a significant ( P < 0.05) decrease in serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2 in J. secunda leaf aqueous fraction treated rats compared with untreated control animals. This decrease could be linked to its anti-inflammatory properties, as reported by Onoja et al .…”