In Vitro and In Vivo Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Benjakul: A Potential Medicinal Product from Thai Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Benjakul (BJK) is a Thai traditional remedy consisting of five plants: Piper chaba Hunt., Piper sarmentosum Roxb., Piper interruptum Opiz., Plumbago indica Linn., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. It is used as a first-line drug to balance patient’s symptoms before other treatments. BJK ethanolic extract has been reported to show anti-inflammatory activity through various mediators, e.g., nitric oxide, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Therefore, BJK could serve as a potential novel anti-inflammatory herbal medicine. However, studies on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), one of the key mediators in acute inflammation, and anti-inflammation in animal models (in vivo) have not been done. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of BJK extract and some of its chemical compounds against PGE2 production in murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell line and two in vivo models of anti-inflammatory studies. Ethanolic extract of BJK (BJK[E]) showed high inhibitory activity against PGE2 production with an IC50 value of 5.82 ± 0.10 μg/mL but its water extract (BJK[W]) was inactive. Two chemicals from BJK[E], i.e., plumbagin and myristicin, which served as biological markers, showed strong activity with IC50 values of 0.08 ± 0.01 and 1.80 ± 0.06 μg/mL, respectively. BJK[E] was administered both topically and orally to rats inhibited with inflammation induced by ethyl phenylpropiolate (rat ear edema model) and carrageenan (hind paw edema model). Moreover, the biological activity of BJK extract did not reduce after six-month storage under accelerated condition (40°C, 75% RH). This indicated its stability and a 24-month shelf-life under normal condition. These results supported not only the use of BJK in Thai traditional medicine but also the possibility of further development of phytopharmaceutical products from BJK.

Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Myristicin: A Literature Review

“…Furthermore, a molecular docking study revealed that myristicin would be able to non-selectively inhibit the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzyme, which is one of those responsible for the production of prostaglandins. However, it did not show this activity at mRNA and protein levels when treated in human liver cancer cells [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Modulatory effects of Benjakul extract on rat hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes

“…A Benjakul dose of 200 mg/kg BW can be converted into the human equivalent dose of 32 mg/kg BW or approximately 1,920 mg/60 kg BW [ 18 ]. Benjakul extract doses ranging from 300 to 1,200 mg/kg were used in animal studies [ 11 , 13 ]. High-dose and moderate-dose Benjakul extract treatments increased serum ALT levels, indicating hepatocellular damage.…”

“…Phytochemical analysis of the Benjakul extract revealed various chemical compounds, such as myristicin, plumbagin, methyl piperate, 6-shogaol, 6-gingerol and piperine [ 9 ]. Pharmacological studies have shown that Benjakul and its isolated compounds possess a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic and antidiabetic activities [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Recently, the Benjakul extract showed clinical efficacy and safety in relieving symptoms in the knees of patients with primary osteoarthritis [ 14 ].…”

Phyllencit Mixture, a Combination of Medicinal Herbs, as an Antitussive Agent for Acute Cough Treatment: A Pilot Pre-Post Clinical Study

“…They have also been reported to inhibit infections due to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially those implicated in throat infection bacteria. [15][16][17][18][19] Other studies also report their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potentials [20][21][22][23][24][25][26] , which may be responsible for alleviating throat inflammation and tonsil enlargement.…”