Abstract:
·AIM: To investigate the anti -inflammatory effect of an
aqueous whole plant extract of
(HIE) on endotoxin-induced uveitis in New Zealand white
rabbits.
· METHODS: Clinical signs of uveitis including flares,
iris hyperemia and miosis, were sought for and scored in
1.0 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced uveitic
rabbits treated orally with HIE
(30 -300 mg/kg),
prednisolone (30 mg/kg), or normal saline (10 mL/kg). The
number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltrating, the
protein concentration, as well as levels of tumor necrosis
factor-琢 (TNF-琢), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and monocyte
chemmoattrant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the aqueous humor
after the various treatments were also determined. A
histopathological study of the anterior uveal was
performed.
· RESULTS: The extract and prednisolone -treatment
significantly reduced ( 臆0.001) both the clinical scores
of inflammation (1.0 -1.8 compared to 4.40 依0.40 in the
normal saline -treated rabbits) and inflammatory cells
infiltration. The level of protein, and the concentrations of TNF-琢, PGE2 and MCP-1 in the aqueous humor were
also significantly reduced ( 臆0.001). Histopathological
studies showed normal uveal morphology in the HIE and
prednisolone-treated rabbits while normal saline-treated
rabbits showed marked infiltration of inflammatory cells.
· CONCLUSION: The HIE exhibits anti -inflammatory
effect on LPS -induced uveitis possibly by reducing the
production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
