Author(s)

Jacqueline Trivedi, Firuza Kharas, Sapna Parikh, Roda Dalal, Aurelio Lobo, Lyle Fonseca, Mahesh Jadhav, Shruta Dadarkar, Asha Almeida, Ankita Srivastava, Ashish Suthar^*

Department of Herbal Development, Piramal Life Sciences India Limited, Mumbai, India.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is a key regulator of the inflammatory and tissue destruc-tive pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The clinical success of anti-TNF-α and an-ti-IL-17 biologics has validated the concept that cytokine blockade is beneficial in RA. However, as these drugs are parenterally administered, our efforts are directed at identifying a novel orally active TNF-α inhibitor with a therapeutic profile similar to that of biologics. Since plants are natural immunomodulators, we explored the immunomodulatory potential of Sphaeranthus indicus extract. In our studies, the extract dose-dependently inhibited the release of cytokines in stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), and their spontaneous release in synovial cells derived from patients suffering from RA. TNF-α and IFN-γ induced release of p40 subunit of IL-12/ IL-23, and p19 subunit of IL-23 in differentiated THP-1 cells is potently blocked. The expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs was also potently inhibited. The oral treatment significantly and dose-dependently reduced LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β production in mice. Disease regression was seen in collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice, which was validated along with radiological and histopathological evaluation. Therefore, the extract of Sphaeranthus indicus could be used in the management of inflammatory conditions.

Sphira, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Cytokine Inhibition

Trivedi, J. , Kharas, F. , Parikh, S. , Dalal, R. , Lobo, A. , Fonseca, L. , Jadhav, M. , Dadarkar, S. , Almeida, A. , Srivastava, A. and Suthar, A. (2016) Sphaeranthus indicus: Traditional Wisdom to Modern Medicine—An Orally Active, Potent Cytokine Inhibitor for the Management of Inflammatory Disorders. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 7, 106-116. doi: 10.4236/pp.2016.72014.