| Abstract: | Andrographolide, a diterpene isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been shown to have several biological activities including analgesic, antipyretic and antiinflammatory effects. Since the upregulation of adhesion molecules expression and endothelial-leucocytes adhesion are key steps in the development of inflammation, the present study examines whether andrographolide modulates these biological processes in vitro. Incubation of endothelial cells with non-toxic concentrations (0.16–16.7 υg/mL) of andrographolide attenuated the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF)-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression. Similar concentration ranges of andrographolide also inhibited the TNF-induced endothelial-monocyte adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects of andrographolide may account for its reported in vivoantiinflammatory activity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
