Exploring in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by COX inhibition of flavone isolated from the Calophyllum inophyllum Linn leaves in lipo-polysaccharide stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line

Cell lines are being used in vaccine production, testing drug metabolism and cytotoxicity, antibody production, study of gene function, generation of artificial tissues and synthesis of biological compounds, thus, the field of scientific research is being revolutionized by cell lines. Inflammation is an inherent natural process of the immune system. When inflammation persists for a long period, various chronic diseases are triggered. Recent studies have reported the identification of novel natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties and these compounds offer the potential to decrease excessive inflammation associated with various diseases. Activated macrophages produce different cytokines which, play an important role in the induction of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Lipopolysaccharides regulate inflammatory mediators. Thus, suppression of inflammatory mediator synthesis is one of the useful therapeutic strategies in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. COX-2 is not expressed under normal conditions in most cells, but inflammation mediators induce COX2 expression in a number of cellular systems. Pharmacological inhibition of COX by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can provide relief from the symptoms of inflammation and pain. Shih-Chang Tsai et al explored the anti-inflammatory activity of acetone extract of Calophyllum inophyllum leaves and reported the plant can be used in prevention of inflammatory diseases, and its mechanism may be partially associated with blocking COX-2 and iNOS of RAW 264.7 cells. The present work aimed to demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory activity by COX inhibition in lipo-polysaccharide stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line is due to the flavone isolated from the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum. According to the current investigation, isolated flavones from Calophyllum inophyllum appear to have anti-inflammatory property. When compared to the IC50 value of the standard, diclofenac, the isolated flavone displayed a good IC50 value, which indicates that the ethanolic leaf extract of Calophyllum inophyllum has the potential to be developed as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).