Evaluation of guggulipid and nimesulide on production of inflammatory mediators and GFAP expression in LPS stimulated rat astrocytoma, cell line (C6)

Aim of the study: The present study was designed to investigate effect of guggulipid, a drug developed by CDRI and nimesulide on LPS stimulated neuroinflammatory changes in rat astrocytoma cell line (C6). Materials and methods: Rat astrocytoma cells (C6) were stimulated with LPS (10 mu g/ml) alone and in combinations with different concentrations of guggulipid or nimesulide for 24 h of incubation. Nitrite release in culture supernatant, ROS in cells, expressions of COX-2, GFAP and TNF-alpha in cell lysate were estimated. Results: LPS (10 mu g/ml) stimulated C6 cells to release nitrite, ROS generation, up regulated COX-2 and GFAP expressions at protein level and TNF-alpha at mRNA level. Both guggulipid and nimesulide significantly attenuated nitrite release, ROS generation and also down regulated expressions of COX-2, GFAP and TNF-alpha. Guggulipid and nimesulide per se did not have any significant effect on C6 cells. Conclusion: Results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of guggulipid comparable to nimesulide which suggest potential use of guggulipid in neuroinflammation associated conditions in CNS disorders. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.