The effect of herbal drug (IMOD) on the amount of nitric oxide production in activated microglial cells

Microglial cells are the smallest glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) which، as brain macrophages have an important role in regulation of innate immunity. Quick phenotypic changes of these cells from quiescent state to activated shape and secretion of diffusible factors، show their unique ability in response to inflammatory stimuli. Nitric oxide (NO)، a free radical، is one of the molecules which produce by activated microglial cells and have a pivotal role in progression of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson Disease (PD) and Alzheimer Disease (AD). Therefore، Restrain the overactivation of microglial cells، is a chief strategy to decrease neurotoxic damages which threat central nervous system. In this research we investigate the ability of «IMOD» as an herbal drug، to decrease the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced NO production in newborn rat brains. The production of NO was assessed by Griess assay whilst the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Results show that high dilutions of this drug have an anti-inflammatory effect on microglial cells، which is able to decrease the amount of produced NO in these cells. With these results we can use IMOD to decrease neurological damages in neurodegenerative disorders due to microglial activation.