Effect of meliacine,a plant derived antiviral,on tumor necrosis factor alpha

The effect of meliacine (MAS) and two fractions MAB 1 and MAB 2 obtained from it on the in vitro production of TNF-alpha of murine macrophages induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (from Escherichia coli) was tested. Simultaneous administration of the above fractions (ranging from 14 to 56 microg/ml) and LPS (10 microg/ml) to a macrophage culture significantly increased the amount of TNF-alpha released at 24 h of induction in a dose-dependent manner. Meliacine alone, at a concentration of 56 microg/ml, is a weak inducer of TNF-alpha production.