Reduction of LPS-induced TNFα-release from THP-1-cells by extracts of Myrrh, Chamomile flower and Coffee charcoal

C Vissiennon; R Jente; KH Goos; O Goos; K Nieber

doi:10.1055/s-0034-1395075

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Reduction of LPS-induced TNFα-release from THP-1-cells by extracts of Myrrh, Chamomile flower and Coffee charcoal

C Vissiennon ¹^,³, R Jente ³, KH Goos ², O Goos ², K Nieber ³

¹University of Leipzig, Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
²REPHA GmbH Biologische Arzneimittel, Alt-Godshorn 87, 30855 Langenhagen, Germany
³University of Leipzig, Institute of Pharmacy, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

Abstract

Introduction: The traditional herbal medicinal product Myrrhinil-Intest® consisting of myrrh, chamomile flower extract and coffee charcoal has been in use for the treatment of unspecific and inflammatory intestinal disorders. Anti-inflammatory effects may contribute to clinical effectiveness within a multi-target principle.

Aim: Aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the single components and their contribution towards an anti-inflammatory effect.

Method: Ethanolic (MY) and aqueous myrrh extract (MYA), ethanolic chamomile flower extract (KA) and aqueous coffee charcoal extract (CC) were investigated for their effects on LPS-stimulated TNFα-release from THP-1-cells. The released TNFα in relation to LPS-induced TNFα-release (= 100%) was quantified using ELISA. Budesonide was used as positive control.

Results: The components of Myrrhinil-Intest® reduced the LPS-induced TNFα-release to a varying extent: MYA (1000 µg/ml: 89.4%± 2.5), MY (50 µg/ml: 60.69%± 3.9; 100 µg/ml: 28.57%± 7.4; 200 µg/ml: 2.45%± 0.3; IC50 = 60.65 µg/ml), KA (100 µg/ml: 81.10%± 7.1; 500 µg/ml: 43.71%± 19.8; 1000 µg/ml: 28.28%± 7.8) CC (100 µg/ml: 90.76%± 2.6; 500 µg/ml: 84.77%± 3.4; 1000 µg/ml: 63.15%± 4.4; 1500 µg/ml: 56.03%± 3.8; IC50 = 1886 µg/ml). Further experiments were performed to test combinations of the components using IC80 values. MY and CC reduced the TNFα-release down to 60.4%± 3.4 and MY and KA reduced the TNFα-release below the expected level down to 44.1%± 8.9. However, a combination of KA and CC had no significant effect on the TNFα-release. A combination of all three components reduced TNFα-release down to 68.3%± 18.0.

Conclusion: The compounds of Myrrhinil-Intest® contribute to an anti-inflammatory effect to a different extent with MY (IC50 = 60.65 µg/ml) and KA (IC50 = 483.1 µg/ml) being more effective. The demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential of the fixed combination supports the clinical use for inflamed intestinal disorders.

Keywords: Myrrh, Coffee charcoal, Chamomile, inflammatory intestinal disorders