title: Immunomodulatory properties of Alternanthera tenella Colla aqueous extracts in mice.
abstract: Plants from the genus Alternanthera are thought to possess antimicrobial and antiviral properties. In Brazilian folk medicine, the aqueous extract of A. tenella Colla is used for its anti-inflammatory activity. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory property of A. tenella extract by evaluating the antibody production in male albino Swiss mice weighing 20-25 g (10 per group). The animals received standard laboratory diet and water ad libitum. The effect of A. tenella extract (5 and 50 mg/kg, ip) was evaluated in mice immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC 10%, ip) as T-dependent antigen, or in mice stimulated with mitogens (10 micro g, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, LPS, ip). The same doses (5 and 50 mg/kg, ip) of A. tenella extract were also tested for antitumor activity, using the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma as model. The results showed that 50 mg/kg A. tenella extract ip significantly enhanced IgM (64%) and IgG2a (50%) antibody production in mice treated with LPS mitogen. The same dose had no effect on IgM-specific response, whereas the 5 mg/kg treatment caused a statiscally significant reduction of anti-SRBC IgM-specific antibodies (82%). The aqueous extract of A. tenella (50 mg/kg) increased the life span (from 16 +/- 1 to 25 +/- 1 days) and decreased the number of viable tumor cells (59%) in mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The present findings are significant for the development of alternative, inexpensive and perhaps even safer strategies for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laborat rio de Imunofisiologia, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luíz, MA Brasil. rguerra@elo.com.br
authors.forename: R N M
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: H-A W
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: L M S
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: R S G
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Olea
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts