Abstract :Abstract
Background: Hemidesmus indicus (HI) (Asclepiadaceae), commonly called as Indian Sarsaparilla
is traditionally used for blood purification and to treat cardiovascular diseases. The present study is
aimed to investigate the (i) anti-inflammatory, (ii) anti-hyperlipidemic, effect of alcoholic and water
extracts of HI roots (HIAE and HIWE) using LPS/PMA induced human monocytic (THP-1) cells
and high fat diet fed male Wistar rats respectively.
Methods: The phytochemical analysis of HIAE and HIWE was done using LC-Q-TOF-MS.
Cytotoxicity of the plant extracts was tested by MTT assay. The anti-inflammatory effect of alcoholic
and water extracts of HI roots was assayed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol-12-myristate13-acetate
(PMA) induced THP-1 cells. The study was performed by assaying the following markers:
tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) secretion by ELISA, gene expression of proinflammatory
markers by q-RT-PCR, translocation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-?B) by confocol microscopy.
Macrophage differentiation markers were also studied by q-RT-PCR. Further anti-hyperlipidemic
effect was studied by testing serum lipid profile in high fat diet fed male Wistar rats.