Immunomodulatory and Anti-inflammatory Effect of p-Coumaric Acid, a Common Dietary Polyphenol on Experimental Inflammation in Rats

Abstract

In this study, p-coumaric acid was evaluated for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in vivo. The immunomodulatory effect of p-coumaric acid (100 mg/kg body weight) was assessed by evaluating its effect on cell-mediated immune responses (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction), serum immunoglobulin levels, and macrophage phagocytic index in rats. The anti-inflammatory effects of p-coumaric acid (100 mg/kg body weight) were investigated by examining its effect on expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in synovial tissue by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and circulating immune complexes in serum of adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. The increased cell-mediated immune responses and macrophage phagocytic index observed in control rats were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) upon treatment with p-coumaric acid implying its immunosuppressive property, whereas serum immunoglobulin levels were found to be increased in p-coumaric acid treated control rats. p-coumaric acid also showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory effects in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats by effecting a decrease in the expression of inflammatory mediator TNF-α and circulating immune complexes. Indomethacin was used as a reference drug for anti-inflammatory studies. Thus, our results show that p-coumaric acid could be considered a potential immunosuppressive agent in treating autoimmune inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

Propolis and its constituent caffeic acid suppress LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory response by blocking NF-κB and MAPK activation in macrophages

“…Tricaffeoylquinic acid seems to attenuate TNF-Į-stimulated inflammatory mediators production by keratinocytes, suppressing the activation of Akt and NF-țB pathways which may be mediated by reactive oxygen species, suggesting that this compound may exert inhibitory effects against the pro-inflammatory mediator-induced skin disease (Lee et al, 2011). Another active component present in the propolis (pcoumaric acid) showed anti-inflammatory effects in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats by decreasing TNF-Į expression (Pragasam et al, 2013).…”

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity and standardisation of hydro-methanol extract of underground tuber ofDioscorea alata

“…Later Kim et al (2006) reported potentials of gallic acid to down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a and IL-6 in mast cells. The dietary phenol PCA increases immunoglobulin levels and decreases TNF-a levels in vivo (Pragasam et al 2013), in addition, it inhibits thromboxane B 2 production and LPS-induced PGE 2 generation in vitro (Luceri et al 2007). MY has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity under xyleneinduced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, carrageenan-induced paw edema, leukocyte migration, and cotton pellet granuloma models (Wang et al 2010).…”

Biochemical and histopathological evidence on the beneficial effects ofTragopogon graminifoliusin TNBS-induced colitis

“…Moreover, ferulic acid has wound healing activity via enhancement of oxidative defense (heme oxygenase-1 and heat shock protein-70) and suppression of protein and lipid oxidation in vitro in human dermal fibroblasts (Calabrese et al, 2008). Furthermore, -coumaric acid showed anti-inflammatory function via reduction of cell-mediated immune responses, macrophage phagocyte function and TNF-a expression (Pragasam et al, 2013).…”