Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Abstract

Herbal Constituents of AYUSH-64 Formulation Modulate Release of Cytokines in TLR7/8-Induced Macrophage-Like Cells

Kamala Priya, Manisha Dagar, Madhu Dikshit* and Ajay Kumar*

Recent insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 have revealed a significant relationship between Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and the disease’s severity, characterized by elevated levels of cytokines such as TNF- α, IL- 1β, IL-6, and IL-10. In this study, we simulated virus recognition through TLR7/8 receptors and the subsequent inflammatory response using imiquimod and resiquimod within PMA-differentiated THP1 macrophage-like cells. We investigated the prophylactic potential of herbal constituents found in the AYUSH-64 formulation, including Alstonia scholaris, Picrorhiza kurroa, Swertia chirata, and Caesalpinia crista, to modulate gene expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in induced cells. Our findings were compared with the previously reported effects of the AYUSH-64 formulation in a similar TLR7/8-induced cell model.

Our results demonstrated concentration-dependent responses for all four herbal extracts in regulating TNF- α and IL-6 cytokines. Notably, Picrorhiza kurroa exhibited a concentration-dependent effect on both cytokine gene expression and secreted cytokine levels, highlighting its efficacy in ameliorating the induced inflammatory response. The positive impact of these investigated herbs in mitigating hyper-inflammatory responses complements the prophylactic efficacy previously observed with the AYUSH-64 formulation. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of herbal remedies in mitigating the inflammatory milieu associated with infectious conditions.

Published Date: 2023-11-10; Received Date: 2023-10-11