Cassia seed demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory activities

Researchers have found that Semen Cassiae, the seeds of Cassia tora (Senna obtusifolia in other taxons), can be used as a novel treatment for acute lung injury (ALI). The study, which appeared in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, arrived at this conclusion after conducting multiple in vitro assays and in vivo testing using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice models.

• The team looked at whether Semen Cassiae was able to protect against acute lung injury, as well as the potential mechanisms behind it.
• For the study, researchers injured male Sprague-Dawley with an intratracheal instillation of LPS. After three hours, rats were either treated with Semen Cassiae or vehicle. Rats were sacrificed 24 hours after LPS administration and samples were collected for tissue analysis.
• The effect of Semen Cassiae on LPS stimulation in RAW 264.7 was also evaluated.
• Rats that were treated with Semen Cassiae weakened the effects of ALI, in particular, pulmonary edema and polymorphonuclear neutrophil influxes.
• In addition, biomarkers for inflammation such as interleukin (IL)-6, alpha tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were reduced after treatment. Semen Cassiae also improved epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity.
• In vitro studies demonstrated the ability of Semen Cassiae to inhibit LPS-induced phosphorylation and NF-?B p65 nucleus translocation.

The findings revealed that Semen Cassiae can protect against LPS-induced ALI.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Chen X, Zhang X, Zhang J, Gao Y, Yang Z, Li S, Dai H. ATTENUATION OF ACUTE LUNG INJURY IN A RAT MODEL BY SEMEN CASSIAE. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 28 April 2017;17(234). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1747-7