Veena Dhawan
Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India
Title: Terminalia arjuna modulates IL-18-induced inflammation in human monocytic cell line and in patients with stable coronary artery disease
Biography
Biography: Veena Dhawan
Abstract
The bark extract of Terminalia arjuna is used traditionally, as a cardioprotective agent in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Coronary artery disease(CAD)attracts morbidity and mortality worldwide and inflammation plays a pivotal role in pathophysiology of CAD. Besides use of several drugs like statins, inflammation persists in these patients. The present study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects of Terminalia arjuna in vitro in a human monocytic cell-line (THP-1 cells and its validation in stable patients of coronary artery disease. THP-1 cells were exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 and the effect ofan aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna was evaluated in vitro on the expression of inflammatory molecules.The observations of the in vitro study were further validated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial in 50 subjects with stable CAD who received either placebo or T. arjuna (500 mg twice a day; Himalaya) and were followed up to 6 months. Expression of inflammatory genes eg. CXCL3, COX-2, DUSP-1 and OSM was significantly reduced in vitro in a dose and time-dependent manner by Terminalia arjuna. TA utilized MAPKs and NF-ΚB pathways for its mode of action. These findings were validated in medicated stable-CAD patients who were given Terminalia arjuna. Our data advocates use of Terminalia arjuna as an adjuvant therapy that helps to prevent and ameliorate CAD via its anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects. Future studies are warranted in a larger population setup using Terminalia arjuna as an adjuvant therapy to assess its efficacy.