Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of herbal medicine compound (KodiPur®) using in vitro assay

Abstract

         Kodipur®, a herbal medicine compound, is composed of five pharmaceutical herbs and has been used for treating common cold symptoms as well as modulating the immune function. However, the underlying mechanism has not been scientifically identified. The present study determined the efficacy of Kodipur® on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties using in vitro assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay and 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH) assay. Kodipur® had a radical absorbance capacity of 5,205.83 ± 0.04 μmol/g of sample dry weight with a half maximum concentration (IC₅₀) of 10.22 mg/mL and a % DPPH inhibition of 46.39 ± 0.2 with an IC₅₀ of 10.29 mg/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Pre-treatment with the herbal medicine formula at concentrations of 200–400 μg/mL for 1 hr prior to co-incubation with 5 ng/mL LPS for a further 24 hr, significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide, interleukine-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E2 in a dose-dependent manner as well as reducing reactive oxygen species.
           These findings suggested that the herbal medicine compound has an efficacy to modulate antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties. However, its potential use in animals or humans should be studied further.