In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Lentinus polychrous extract

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lentinus polychrous is a Thai local edible mushroom, traditionally used for the treatments of fever and inflammation due to snake or scorpion envenomation.

Aim of study: The present study aimed to investigate an anti-inflammatory effect of Lentinus polychrous mycelial extract (LPME) both in vitro and in vivo.

Materials and methods: The cytotoxicity and suppressive effects of LPME on nitric oxide production, intracellular O2(-) production, pro-inflammatory mediator expression, TNF-α production were determined by using LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, Anti-inflammatory effect of LPME was evaluated by using carageenan-induced paw edema in rats.

Results: The LPME exhibited cytotoxicity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 280.25 ± 10.10 μg/ml and significantly suppressed the productions of NO and intracellular O2(-) with dose-dependent manner. LPME decreased the expressions of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2 and significantly decreased the TNF-α production in LPS-activated macrophage with dose-dependent manners. Moreover, LPME showed significant suppressive effect on paw edema in rats.

Conclusion: The results clearly revealed that the LPME inhibited NO and pro-inflammatory productions by down-regulating the gene expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators leading to the decrease paw edema in rat which support the traditional use.