Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2011

Treehom remedy is a Thai traditional medicine used for relieving of pyrexia and constipation in children. Its composition are Terminalia sp., Terminalia bellirica Roxb., Phyllanthus emblica L., Coriandrum sativum Linn., Aristolochia sp., Angelica dahurica Benth., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sodium borate, Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Terminalia chebula Retz., Rheum officinale Baill. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the water and ethanol extracts from this remedy on LPS-activated J774A.1 macrophages. Our results demonstrated that the ethanol and water extracts of Treehom remedy significantly inhibited NO production from LPS-stimulated macrophages in concentration-dependent manner (6.25-100 µg/ml). IC₅₀ values were 40.05 and 60.05 µg/ml for the ethanol and water extracts respectively. Both extracts 25-100 µg/ml inhibited mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The expressions were 71.28%- 29.58% and 73.97%-39.64% for the ethanol and water extracts, respectively and were correlated with the reduction in NO production. These extracts also reduced mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) with the expression of 75.67%-38.32% and 86.81%-48.95% for the ethanol and water extracts. Moreover both extracts decreased mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6. These cytokines and COX-2 enzyme are inflammatory mediators produced during inflammatory process. The antioxidant assay also showed high antioxidant activity of both extracts at concentration 25-100 µg/ml. All of these result demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanol and water extracts from Treehom remedy.