STUDY OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF WHOLE CELL EXRACTS OF CYANOBACTERIA BY MEMBRANE STABILIZATION & TRYPSIN INHIBITION ASSAY

Abstract

Inflammation is a complex mechanism in response to any infection, injury, or irritation. The prolonged inflammation leads to tissue damage and loss of function result in various disease conditions like osteoarthritis, and autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and Crohn’s disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to control inflammatory response and prevent tissue damage .Cyanobacteria are rich sources of phytochemicals like phenolics, flavonoids are known to have anti-inflammatory activity. Because of ease of cultivation and faster growth rate than plants, they are preferred candidates over plants. This study focuses on screening of cyanobacterial isolates for their anti-inflammatory activity. The human erythrocytes (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay indicated the potential of whole cell extracts of cyanobacteria to stabilize lysosomal membrane and thereby prevent tissue damage by lysosomal chemokines and enzymes. The trypsin inhibition assay is an indicator for potential to inhibit proteinases and decelerate tissue damage. The whole cell extracts of 10 cyanobacterial isolates of different genus namely Weistellopsis, Pseudophormidium, Oscillatoria, Nostoc, Phormidium, Chlorella, Hapalosiphon under study showed 85%-94% membrane stabilization in hypotonicity induced hemolysis and 92% to 97% membrane stabilization in heat induced hemolysis. The test extracts also showed 48% to 52% inhibition of trypsin. Thus, the isolates under study have application as anti-inflammatory agent.