Investigation into the anti inflammatory potential of the alkaloids of Adhatoda vasica Nees

Abstract

The products of the eicosanoid pathway play a major role in the inflammatory process. newlineFor example, the Leukotrienes - LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 are highly potent and exhibit newlinea contractile potency, which is 1000 times greater than histamine on the bronchia. newlineNSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and COXIBs (inhibitors specific to newlineCyclooxygenase-2) which target these pathways are widely used as anti-inflammatory newlinedrugs. However, the prolonged usage of these is associated with severe side effects. In newlineaddition to this, it was observed that selective inhibition of an enzyme of the pathway newlineleads to the shunting of the substrate (arachidonic acid) through other enzymes. Hence newlinethere is a need for multi-enzyme inhibitors with limited or no side effects. newline