Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by damage of joints. Several cytokines are elevated in active disease state and have been linked with disease severity. Various plant materials have been used to diminished inflammations and proposed to be possible therapeutic element against RA. Reports on usage of T.patula L. on treatment of RA and/or invitro investigations are very limited. Antioxidant activity and inflammatory cytokines modulation properties of T. patula has been reported, we hypothesized that flower extract of T. patula may affect cytokines levels in RA patients. In the present study we enrolled five RA patients and three healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated with different concentrations of T. patula flowers extract (50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml and 200 ng/ml). TNF-α and IFN-α levels in culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. Stimulation with Maroon colors flower extracts displayed lower concentration of TNF-α and IFN-α compared to orange and yellow colors flower extract. In addition, higher concentration of flower extract (200 ng/ml) irrespective of colors, significantly diminished levels of TNF-α and IFN-α when compared to other flower concentrations (50 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml). These observations collectively suggest that flower extract of T. patula is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. The constituents of T. patula which is responsible for suppression of inflammatory molecules need to be explored and can be translated in to possible therapeutic.
