COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ANTI INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL THROUGH IN VITRO SCREENING ASSAYS EMPLOYING CELL BASED MODELS TO ASSESS INHIBITION OF INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS

Inflammation is a vital protective response to tissue injury or infection, yet its chronic progression is a primary driver of global diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and atherosclerosis. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for management, their long-term use is limited by severe adverse effects, particularly gastric ulceration caused by the non-selective inhibition of COX-1. This has led to an increased interest in natural products, which offer a diverse source of newer compounds with high efficacy and lower toxicity. This review evaluates various in vitro models as indispensable, cost-effective, and ethical alternatives to animal testing for screening anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Key methodologies discussed include the inhibition of protein denaturation, which correlates with the prevention of inflammatory disorders, and membrane stabilization assays that assess a compound's ability to protect human red blood cells from heat or hypotonicity-induced hemolysis. Additionally, the review covers enzymatic assays targeting pro-inflammatory mediators, such as the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase, proteinase, and hyaluronidase. By stabilizing cell membranes and inhibiting enzymes that trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, herbal extracts like turmeric and ginger have demonstrated significant potential. While these in vitro results provide valuable insights into mechanisms of action, the review concludes that further in vivo studies and clinical trials are essential to confirm the safety and therapeutic potential of these natural leads for human health.