In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Phyllanthus acidus methanolic extract

Ethnopharmacological relevance Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels (Phyllanthaceae) has traditionally been used to treat gastric trouble, rheumatism, bronchitis, asthma, respiratory disorders, and hepatitis. Despite this widespread use, the pharmacological activities of this plant and their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the immunopharmacological activities of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of this plant (Pa-ME) and validated its pharmacological targets. Materials and methods Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages, an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis model, and an acetic acid-injected capillary permeability mouse model were employed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Pa-ME. Potentially active anti-inflammatory components of this extract were identified by HPLC. The molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity were studied by kinase assays, reporter gene assays, immunoprecipitation analysis, and overexpression of…