In vitro assesment of anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin and Indonesian cassia extract in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line

Objective(s): Inflammation is an immune response toward injuries. Although inflammation is healing response, but in some condition it will lead to chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's and various cancer. Indonesian cassia (Cinnamomum burmanni C. Nees & T. Ness) known to contain coumarin, is widely used for alternative medicine especially as an antiinflammator. This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory properties of coumarin and Indonesian cassia extract (ICE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell line. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic assay of coumarin and ICE against RAW264.7 cells was conducted using MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H- tetrazolium). The anti-inflammatory potential was determined using LPS-induced RAW 267.4 macrophages cells to measure inhibitory activity of both compounds on production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and also cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and TNF-alpha. Results: Coumarin 10 mu M and ICE 10 mu g/ml were nontoxic to the RAW264.7 cells. Both of coumarin and ICE were capable to reduce the PGE2, TNF-alpha, NO, IL-6, and IL-beta level in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Coumarin had higher activity to decrease PGE2 and TNF-alpha, whilst ICE had higher activity to inhibit NO, IL-6, and IL-beta levels. Conclusion: Coumarin and ICE possess anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of PGE2 and NO along with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 beta production.