Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of Kalanchoe brasiliensis.
The immunomodulatory effect of juice obtained from leaves of Kalanchoe brasiliensis (Kb) on zymosan-induced inflammation was investigated. C57B110 mice received a subcutaneous injection of 150 microg zymosan in the footpad. After 7 days, there was an increase in footpad thickness from 176 +/- 4 to 236 +/- 9 x 10(-2) mm and in blood flow in the footpad area, monitored by 99mTc, from 98 +/- 4 to 694 +/- 59 counts per minute (cpm). Zymosan induced a severe infiltration of leukocytes into the articular tissues and a 13-fold increase in the adjacent popliteal lymph node (PLN) weight. Beginning 2 days after the injection, mice were treated daily for 5 days with different concentrations of lyophilised Kb juice dissolved in water. Treatment with 480 mg/kg/day reduced footpad thickness to 193 +/- 5 x 10(-2) mm, leukocyte infiltration and blood flow to 150 +/- 18 cpm in the footpad area. PLN weight in zymosan-injected mice decreased from 6.5 +/- 0.5 to 1.5 +/- 0.4 mg, similarly to the decrease after treatment with indomethacin (3 mg/kg/day). Flow cytometric analysis of lymph node cells showed an important reduction in B cell number in Kb-treated mice. Treatment over a period of 10 days was also effective at reducing zymosan-induced inflammation, even when started 7 days after injection. These data suggest anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of K. brasiliensis that may account for its popularity in folk medicine against rheumatic diseases.
Ibrahim
Tereza
T
Depto de Bioquímica Médica, ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cunha
Jose Marcos T
JM
Madi
Kalil
K
da Fonseca
Lea M B
LM
Costa
Sonia S
SS
Gonçalves Koatz
Vera Lucia
VL
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D031962:Kalanchoe; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015054:Zymosan / Q000633:toxicity
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015054:Zymosan