Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Du-Moxibustion in a Mouse Model of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Published on: October 27, 2023
A Comparative Study upon the Therapeutic Indices of Some Natural and Synthetic Anti-inflammatory Agents
Ali Khodadadi1, Mohammad Hassan Pipelzadeh, Nasrin Aghel
1Department of Immunology , School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Objectives:
THE AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY WAS TO COMPARE THE THERAPEUTIC INDICES OF SEVERAL AGENTS USED IN TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS WHICH INCLUDED: Vitamin E, hydro-alcoholic extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Matricaria aurea, dexamethasone, piroxicam and diclofenac using Wehi-164 fibrosarcoma cells.
Materials And Methods:
Cytotoxicity evaluation was based on vital dye exclusion assay. Matrix-metalloproteinases inhibition (MMPI) was assessed by gelatinase zymography method. The collected data were used to estimate the IC50 (50% MMPI concentration), LC50 (50% cytotoxicity concentration) and the therapeutic index (LC50/IC50).
Results:
Among the natural anti-inflammatory agents used, M. aurea was the least toxic and the most effective inhibitor of MMP. Vitamin E not only increased MMP activity, but also was the most toxic of all the agents tested. Next in terms of toxicity to vitamin E was G. glabra. Diclofenac was more toxic than both piroxicam and dexamethasone.
Conclusion:
Findings from this study suggest that medicinal plants reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties are not equally effective and safe. In order to assess the implications of these findings, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed.
Related Concept Videos
Therapeutic Index
Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Combined Effects of Drugs: Antagonism
The most common type is receptor antagonism, where one drug acts as an antagonist to block the effects of another drug by...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF