COX-1 And COX-2 Anti-Inflammatory Assays

Brunswick Laboratories has completed the development of its assays for COX-1 and COX-2 in­­hi­bition. These new assays complement Br­unswick’s existing panel of antioxidant and oxidative stress tests, including its ORAC assays. There are several existing assays for measuring COX inhibition activity. These include (1) oxygraph, measurement of the rate of oxygen uptake in arachidonic acid oxidation by COX; (2) colorimetric assay for peroxidase activity of COX using tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD); and (3) quantitation of prostanoid products via enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The colorimetric and EIA assays are not applicable to most food or herbal extracts, which often contain antioxidants and chemicals that lead to interferences. Only the oxygraph method can faithfully quantify the COX inhibition capacity without the interferences, according to the company. Brunswick has adapted and improved the oxygraph method so that it is economically feasible for its clients. The company is also working on a high throughput version of the COX inhibitor assay based on the oxygraph method to further reduce the cost.