OBJECTIVETo evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of the leaf exacts of Gendarussa vulgaris (G. vulgaris) Nees.

METHODSG. vulgaris Nees of the family Apocynaceae is a medium sized tree grown in semishade or no shade and is common in the Ernad and Nilambur taluks of Kerala.Various parts of this plant have been used in the treatment of ulcers, sores, inflammation, dyspepsia, healing of wounds, etc. The present study aimed at the evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves by both in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro method was estimated by human red blood cell membrane stabilisation (HRBC) method and in vivo method was estimated on the carrageenan induced paw oedima.

RESULTSBoth the methods showed significant anti-inflammatory property of the different extracts tested.

CONCLUSIONSThe alcoholic extract at a concentration of 300 mg/mL showed potent activity on comparing with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Apocynaceae ; chemistry ; Edema ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Trees ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla seeds ethanol extract(VSE) on immunological hepatitis and acute inflammation mice model.

METHODHepatic function in the immunological liver injury model was evaluated by assessing the levels of ALT in plasma, and the content of MDA, ORAC, NO and iNOS mRNA in liver tissues. VSE effect on the acute inflammation caused by croton oil and carrageenan was observed.

RESULTCompared to the model group, 125 and 500 mg x kg(-1) VSE could inhibit the activities of ALT in mice plasma, and enhanced levels of ORAC and decreased levels of MDA and modulated levels of NO in liver tissues. Meanwhile, VSE could ameliorate the ear swelling induced by croton oil and reduced the thickness of mice hind paw induced by carrageenan as well.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that VSE exerted potential effects on immunological hepatitis and the mechanisms might be partly related to free radical scavenging activity and inhibit release of iNOS. VSE also showed partial effects on acute inflammation.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Hepatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Vitex ; chemistry

This study evaluated the effect of Matricaria chamomilla and vaccination frequency on cattle immunization against rabies. Four groups (n = 15 /group) were treated with or without Matricaria chamomilla CH(12) and vaccinated with one or two doses of rabies vaccine (30 day interval). No effect of chamomile was found on cattle immunization against rabies; however, antibody titers were protective in cattle vaccinated twice, while 93.3% of cattle vaccinated only once had titers under 0.5 UI/ml after 60 days. In conclusion, the use of chamomile did not alter the humoral immune response in cattle, and two vaccine doses are suggested for achieving protective antibody titers.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Cattle ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Interactions ; Matricaria/*chemistry ; Plant Extracts/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Rabies Vaccines/administration & dosage/*immunology

Radix Adenophorae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to have a variety of biological functions. In the present study, a polysaccharide component, Radix Adenophorae Polysaccharide (RAPS), was purified from Radix Adenophorae by decoloring with ADS-7 macroporous adsorption resin, DEAE-52 cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephacryl S-300HR gel chromatography, with the purity of 98.3% and a molecular weight of 1.8 × 10(4) Da. The cell viability assay and microscopic examination revealed that RAPS promoted the proliferation and activation of macrophages. At 400 μg·mL(-1), RAPS stimulated RAW264.7 cell proliferation by 1.91-fold compared with the control. Meanwhile, RAPS significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner in the supernatant of RAW264.7 cell culture as determined by ELISA. At 400 μg·mL(-1), the production of TNF-iα was 20.8-fold higher than that of the control. Simultaneously, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased in RAW264.7 cells incubated with RAPS, as measured by Griess assay and Western blot analysis. The NO production of cells treated with RAPS (400 μg·mL(-1)) reached 15.8 μmol·L(-1), which was 30.4-fold higher than that of the control (0.53 μmol·L(-1)). These data suggested that RAPS may enhance the immune function and protect against exogenous pathogens by activating macrophages.
Animals ; Campanulaceae ; chemistry ; Cytokines ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophage Activation ; drug effects ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

The prevalence of peanut allergy in Korea is lower than in America. Peanut extract allergens between the two countries have not been standardized. This study was performed to compare the allergenicity of raw Korean and American peanuts with that of roasted peanuts. We prepared the peanut extracts in Korean raw (KP) and roasted peanuts (KRP), and also in American raw (AP) and roasted (ARP) peanuts. We compared the peanut extract allergens of KP, KRP, AP and ARP in vitro with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by immunoblotting, T-cell proliferation assay and skin prick test with sera from peanut-allergic patients. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting demonstrated four allergenic extracts, numerous bands that displayed a high prevalence of IgE binding. IgE-binding bands were at 64, 36 and 17 kDa. Western blot inhibition revealed that either KP or AP could almost completely inhibit the reactivity of the other extract. There were no differences between T-cell proliferation assay and skin prick test. In conclusion, this investigation showed no different allergic components in both raw and roast extracts of Korean and American peanuts.
Allergens/immunology ; Allergens/analysis+ACo- ; Allergens/adverse effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Comparative Study ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Food Hypersensitivity/immunology ; Heat ; Human ; Hybridization ; Korea ; Lymphocyte Transformation ; North America ; Peanuts/immunology ; Peanuts/classification ; Peanuts/chemistry+ACo- ; Plant Extracts/immunology ; Plant Proteins/immunology ; Plant Proteins/analysis+ACo- ; Plant Proteins/adverse effects ; Skin Tests ; Species Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes/drug effects

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanism of phenylethanoid glycosides from the seeds of Plantago asiatica by testing its effects on the maturing of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODMonocytes generated from bone marrow of Balb/cj mouse were cultured for 6 days in complete RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS, rmGM-CSF and rmIL-4.50 mg x L(-1) acteoside or isoacteoside was added to cells on day 6 of culture for 24 h. The surface molecules expression level of DCs and their phagocytose ability were analysis by flow cytometry.

RESULTBoth acteoside and isoacteoside could increase the expression of CD11c, CD86, MHC II and CD80 on DCs surface. The ability of unstimulated DCs to uptake FITC-dextran was higher than that of phenylethanoid glycosides or LPS treated DCs.

CONCLUSIONBoth acteoside and isoacteoside could induce maturation of murine dendritic cells.

Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; immunology ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; genetics ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of rosa roxburghii tratt preparation on immune function of arseniasis patients caused by burning coal.

METHODSAccording to the diagnosis standard for endemic arseniasis(WS/T 211-2001), 62 cases of arseniasis patients who resided in endemic arseniasis area in Guizhou province were selected and divided stratified randomly into two groups: rosa roxburghii tratt juice treatment group and superoxide dismutase(SOD)-enriched rosa roxburghii tratt juice treatment group, with 31 patients in each group.Each patient took 120 ml/d rosa roxburghii tratt preparation or SOD-enriched rosa roxburghii tratt orally for one month. Another 30 healthy residents from a neighbour township 12 km away where arsenic was not prevalent were selected as controls. A 2 ml blood and 50 ml urine samples were collected from individuals and the urine arsenic contents, peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+) T cell), serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) and complement (C3, C4) were detected. The differences between more than two groups on above indicators were compared. The correlations between urinary arsenic and immune parameters were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the rosa roxburghii tratt juice group, SOD-enriched rosa roxburghii tratt juice before intervention group and the control group, the levels of urine arsenic were (76.55 ± 23.02) , (72.60 ± 25.91) and (26.33 ± 11.30) µg/g Cr respectively and IgG were (11.31 ± 1.68), (11.35 ± 1.94) and (9.23 ± 1.75) g/L respectively. The differences were statistically significant(F values were 82.01, 13.82, both P values < 0.05). After intervention with rosa roxburghii tratt preparation, the levels of urine arsenic were (53.21 ± 16.51) and (51.72 ± 17.70)µg/g Cr, both decreased than before intervention (t values were 5.80 and 3.78, both P values < 0.05). The levels of CD3(+) were (44.47 ± 7.14)%, (43.44 ± 6.61)% and (70.78 ± 5.26)%, CD4(+) were (29.87 ± 5.67)%, (29.42 ± 5.87)% and (46.08 ± 5.87)%, CD4(+)/CD8(+) were(1.25 ± 0.42), (1.22 ± 0.39) and (1.79 ± 0.26) and C4 were (0.13 ± 0.08), (0.13 ± 0.09) and (0.20 ± 0.11) g/L respectively among the two treatment group before intervention and the control group. The differences were significant (F values were 178.04, 76.71, 23.13 and 5.26, all P values < 0.05). After intervention, the levels of CD3(+) were (59.73 ± 7.38)% and (66.31 ± 7.57)%, CD4(+) were (34.00 ± 7.97)% and (39.11 ± 5.81)%, CD4(+)/CD8(+) were (1.41 ± 0.37) and(1.58 ± 0.26), all increased than before intervention(t values were 12.47, 25.18, 5.41, 10.47, 3.22 and 5.05, all P values < 0.05). The levels of urine arsenic and CD3(+), CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), C4 were inversely correlated correlation, while positive correlation existed between the level of urine arsenic and IgG(r values were -0.68, -0.56, -0.51, -0.43 and 0.36, all P values < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of urinary arsenic level is closely related to immune function suppression in arseniasis patients caused by burning coal, rosa roxburghii tratt preparation can effectively improve immune function of arseniasis patients.

Adult ; Arsenic ; urine ; Arsenic Poisoning ; etiology ; immunology ; China ; Coal ; Complement System Proteins ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the modulation effect of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines following long term use of water soluble ethanol extracts from different organs of Nyctanthes arbortristis (NAT) in mouse model of arthritis.

METHODSArthritis was induced in mice by two injections of Freund's complete adjuvant on days 0 and 12 in the sub-planter surface of the right hind paw.

RESULTSInjection of adjuvant resulted in a maximum primary edema of the footpad with erythema, and edema and distortion of joints of the right hind paw after 24-48 hours. Second injection of FCA led to the formation of secondary swellings persisting more than four weeks that spread onto the other hind limb but to a lesser extent. Histological analysis of the ankle on day 47 showed marked evidence of cartilage destruction in association with pannus formation and moderate bone resorption. Proinflammatory cytokine levels in the inflamed joint homogenate were elevated on days 2, 14, and 47. Oral administration of leaf and fruit extracts in arthritic mice reduced joint homogenate levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6 on days 2, 14, and 47 in comparison to untreated arthritic mice. Interleukin-10 level was elevated in the inflamed joint on days 2, 14, and 47 in comparisons to untreated arthritic mice.

CONCLUSIONEvidence of lesser inflammation of the footpad and joint and associated histological observation support the therapeutic benefit of leaf and fruit extracts from Nyctanthes arbortristis. This study helps in understanding the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of Nyctanthes arbortristis in the light of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oleaceae ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To investigate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation effects of different ecotype from Isatidis Radix growing in Gansu province. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (=11)and used the auricular swelling and paw edema to observe the anti-inflammatory effects of Isatidis Radix; Mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (=11) and through the gasbag synovitis model to observe the anti-inflammatory effects of Isatidis Radix; Mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (=11), the immunosuppressed model were established by injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) to study the effects of Isatidis Radix on index of thymus, blood routine and cytokines. RESULTS: Gansu different ecotype from Isatidis Radix could reduce the swelling of the mice auricle, paw edema and total protein, leukotriene B(LTB)and malonaldehyde(MDA) in airbag synovitis exudates, and upgrade serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD); Degrade the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and upgrade the index of thymus, the number of red and white corpuscles, the level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (<0.05, 0.01) of mice immunosuppressed model; Above the research of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation, there were no significant differences between Isatidis Radix of Gansu different ecotype and tetraploid. CONCLUSIONS Different ecotype of Isatidis Radix has obvious functions in anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation, but there are no significant differences between Gansu different ecotype and tetraploid.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ecotype ; Immunomodulation ; drug effects ; Isatis ; chemistry ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the total flavonoids of orange peel (TFO) against adjuvant arthritis (AA) and the underlying mechanism.

METHODAA model was induced in male Wistar (correction of SD) rats by immunization with Freund's complete adjuvant Pad thickness was assayed by caliper. Pathological impairment of ankle joint was analysised by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, Interleukin (IL)-1beta and prostaglandin (PG) E2 in serum was detected by radioimmunoassay method. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in synovium tissues was measured by Western blot assay.

RESULTThe 75 mg x kg(-1) and 150 mg x kg(-1) TFO treatment obviously decreased the pad thickness and improve the pathological impairment of ankle joint of AA rats. In addition, abnormal elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and PGE2 in serum and COX-2 expression in synovium tissues of AA rats were markedly repressed by TFO treatment.

CONCLUSIONTFO can inhibit the development of AA in rats, and the mechanism were likely due to depressing inflammatory mediators production.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Citrus sinensis ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Freund's Adjuvant ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; immunology ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology