Immunomodulatory effects of sucupira (Pterodon pubescens) seed infusion on collagen-induced arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and immunomodulatory efficacy of seed extracts from sucupira branca (Pterodon pubescens Benth.), a Brazilian anti-inflammatory folk medicine, against collagen II (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice.


METHODS
Mice were divided into 3 groups: 1) normal control mice received a vehicle (ethanol 15% in water); 2) mice with CIA received the vehicle; and 3) mice with CIA received extract from 1 mg sucupira seeds/day. The daily oral treatments started 21 days after the first collagen immunization, ending 4 weeks later. We analyzed the arthritic index, the histopathology of the joints, the serum anti-CII IgG antibody level, and the absolute counts of the CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ subsets of inguinal lymph nodes (LN).


RESULTS
Sucupira treatment strongly reduced the severity of arthritis (p < 0.001). Vehicle-treated CIA mice exhibited invasive synovial pannus and significant articular leukocyte infiltration, features that were reduced or absent in sucupira-treated mice. Mice with CIA exhibited twice the number of CD4+ and CD8+ LN cells found in control mice. Suctupira-treated mice exhibited these subsets in numbers comparable to the latter. A two-thirds decrease in the level of serum anti-CII IgG antibody and a normalization of the CD4+CD69+ LN cell number in treated mice hallmark a negative regulatory effect of sucupira on B- and CD4 T-cell activation, respectively. The CD8+CD69+ cell number remained roughly the same in the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and immunomodulatory effects of sucupira on CIA provides a further experimental basis for the popular use of sucupira in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Coelho
M G P
MG
Department of Biochemistry, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sabino
K C C
KC
Dalmau
S R
SR
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D010936:Plant Extracts