title: Adjuvant activity of Quillaja brasiliensis saponins on the immune responses to bovine herpesvirus type 1 in mice.
abstract: The chemical characterization of aqueous extracts (AE) of barks, leaves and branches and the saponin fraction denominated QB-90 obtained from Quillaja brasiliensis, a native species from Southern Brazil, show remarkable similarities to Quillaja saponaria saponins which are known as adjuvants in vaccine formulations. In vivo toxicity assays of AE and QB-90 showed not to be lethal for mice in doses ranging from 50 to 1600 microg and 50-400 microg, respectively. Experimental vaccines prepared with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) antigen and either AE (barks 100 microg, leaves 400 microg, branches 400 microg) or QB-90 (100 microg) were able to enhance the immune responses of mice in a comparable manner to saponins from Q. saponaria (QuilA, 100 microg). BHV-1 specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody levels in serum were also significantly enhanced by AE, QB-90 and QuilA compared to control group (p<0.05). These results showed that AE and QB-90 from Q. brasiliensis are potential candidates as adjuvants in vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliane D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kauffmann
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spilki
authors.forename: Claiton L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lencina
authors.forename: Paulo M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Roehe
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gosmann
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007242:Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007118:Immunoassay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D031990:Quillaja / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins