Palm Oil Developments No.70 (June 2019) p36-40

The Anti-inflammatory Effects of Tocotrienol in Macrophages

Sitti Rahma Abd Hafid* and Nabiha Iran*

Inflammation is one of the immune response systems and plays an important role in damaged tissues and wounds which include other infections occurring at the site. Without the inflammation response, the wound would not able to heal. Inflammation occurs as a result of the body’s attempt in self-protection, in order to remove harmful stimuli and to initiate the healing process. This is identified as a defence mechanism in our body in recruiting the immune cells to the site of the inflammation (Nordqvist, 2017). To start the healing process, our immune system is required to differentiate between normal cells and damaged cells, irritation, pain and also pathogens. The biological responses will continuously try to remove any harmful substance or irritation that affects a part of our body. When there is a harmful substance or inflammation present in our body, a biological response will start spontaneously and try to recruit our immune cells to the site of injury, sometimes causing pain and discomfort. This is an indication that our body is trying to heal itself (Nordqvist, 2017). However, if inflammation persists longer than necessary, it can cause more harm than benefit to the body (Nordqvist, 2017).





Author information:
* Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),
6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi,
43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
E-mail: ctrahma@mpob.gov.my