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.
Depto de Bioquímica Médica, ICB, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tereza
T
Ibrahim
Jose Marcos T
JM
Cunha
Kalil
K
Madi
Lea M B
LM
da Fonseca
Sonia S
SS
Costa
Vera Lucia
VL
Gonçalves Koatz
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