Anti-inflammatory effect of Heliotropium indicum Linn on lipopolysaccharide-induced uveitis in New Zealand white rabbits

AIM： To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of an aqueous whole plant extract of Heliotropium indicum（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 in1.0 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced uveitic rabbits treated orally with HIE（30-300 mg/kg）,prednisolone（30 mg/kg）, or normal saline（10 m L/kg）. The number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltrating, the protein concentration, as well as levels of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）, 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（P ≤0.001） both the clinical scores of inflammation（1.0-1.8 compared to 4.40 ±0.40 in the normal saline-treated rabbits） and inflammatory cells infiltration. The level of protein, and the concentrationsof TNF-α, PGE2 and MCP-1 in the aqueous humor were also significantly reduced（P ≤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.

Anti-glaucoma potential of Heliotropium indicum Linn in experimentally-induced glaucoma

Background:Heliotropium indicum is used as a traditional remedy for hypertension in Ghana.The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-glaucoma potential of an aqueous whole plant extract of H.indicum to manage experimentally-induced glaucoma.Methods:The percentage change in intraocular pressure(IOP),after inducing acute glaucoma(15 mLkg^(−1) of 5%dextrose,i.v.),in New Zealand White rabbits pretreated with Heliotropium indicum aqueous extract(HIE)(30–300 mgkg^(−1)),acetazolamide(5 mgkg^(−1)),and normal saline(10 mLkg^(−1))per os were measured.IOPs were also monitored in chronic glaucoma in rabbits(induced by 1%prednisolone acetate drops,12 hourly for 21 days)after treatments with the same doses of HIE,acetazolamide,and normal saline for 2 weeks.The anti-oxidant property of the extract was assessed by assaying for glutathione levels in the aqueous humour.Glutamate concentration in the vitreous humour was also determined using ELISA technique.Histopathological assessment of the ciliary bodies was made.Results:The extract significantly reduced intraocular pressure(p≤0.05–0.001)in acute and chronic glaucoma,preserved glutathione levels and glutamate concentration(p≤0.01–0.001).Histological assessment of the ciliary body showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration in the extract and acetazolamide-treated group compared with the normal saline-treated group.Conclusion:The aqueous whole plant extract of Heliotropium indicum has ocular hypotensive,anti-oxidant and possible neuro-protective effects,which therefore underscore its plausible utility as an anti-glaucoma drug with further investigation.