Canscora decussata (Roxb.) Schult (Gentianaceae) inhibits LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells and carageenan-induced paw-edema in rats.

Inflammation is characterized pathologically by an increased supply of blood to the affected area, vasodilation, and infiltration of phagocytic, monocytic, and polymorphonuclear cells into the site of inflammation. The infiltration of leukocytes is in part regulated by the increased expression of cell adhesion molecules viz. ICAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells. We investigated the effect of ethanolic extract prepared from plant Canscora decussata on expression of ICAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells. Our results demonstrated that treatment of human endothelial cells with the extract down-regulated the LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 and E-selectin. To study further the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract, we evaluated its effect in a rat model of carageenan-induced paw-edema. Our results showed that the extract was able to reduce the edema formation in a dose-dependent manner. These results, therefore, indicate that Canscora decussata extract could be useful towards developing effective anti-inflammatory agent(s) in the future.