Nyctanthes arbor-tristis bioactive extract ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation through the inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. is a mythical plant used in traditional Indian medicinal systems for the treatment of inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, and pain-related responses. However, its bioactive compounds and underlying mechanism of action have not been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This investigation aimed to study the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the bioactive extract of N. arbor-tristis (NATE), both in vitro and in vivo, elucidate the possible mechanism of action, and determine its chemicals.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We studied the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of NATE on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, paw-ear edema, and acetic acid-induced pain in rats and analysed its chemical components using Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS).

RESULTS

NATE efficiently reduced the production of various inflammatory mediators and factors, such as free radicals, lipid peroxidation, nitrous oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and IL-10, as well as their corresponding mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells (p < 0.001). Furthermore, NATE inhibited the activation of a key signaling pathway, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), as it caused a decrease in the degradation of inhibitor of kB alpha (IkBa). Administration of NATE significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema (p < 0.001), TPA-induced ear edema, and the production of inflammatory factors (p < 0.01). NATE revealed anti-nociceptive impacts in acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion experiments (p < 0.001) as well as no toxicity signs. A total of six compounds, namely iridoid glycoside (6,7-di-O-benzonylnyctanthoside), arborsides A, arborsides C, betulinic acid, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, were characterized through the examination of their mass spectra in correlation with those documented in a database of mass spectra.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study furnishes scientific corroboration of the inhibitory potency of N. arbor-tristis as a promising herbal treatment for inflammation and pain responses without toxicity, offering a scientific basis for future drug development strategies aimed at ameliorating inflammatory diseases.