Anti-inflammatory properties of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark Inhibition of lipopolysaccaride-induced septic shock and vascular permeability

The anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Bridelia ferruginea stem bark was further evaluated in models which are mediated by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). The effect of the extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock was evaluated by measuring the number of deaths and the levels of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases following intraperitoneal injection of LPS (1 mug/kg) into D-galactosamine-primed mice. LPS-induced vascular permeability on the back skin of mice was measured by the local accumulation of Evan's blue after subcutaneous injection of LPS. Pre-treatment with Bridelia ferruginea extract (10-80 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the septic shock syndrome in mice, with 80 mg/kg of the extract exhibiting comparable activity as pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg). LPS-induced dye leakage in the skin of mice was also suppressed by the extract (10-80 mg/kg). Our study suggests that one of the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects of Bridelia ferruginea possibly involve the suppression of TNFalpha up-regulation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.