title: Immunosuppressive effects of Echinodorus macrophyllus aqueous extract.
abstract: Echinodorus macrophyllus is a medicinal plant, popularly known in Brazil as "chapéu de couro", used to treat rheumatic diseases, which are usually characterized by exacerbated T and B lymphocyte response. We have evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of Echinodorus macrophyllus (AEEm) on these cell functions, proliferation, and nitric oxide production. Mice treated orally for 7 days with AEEm had inhibited B cell antibody production (0.5mg/kg b.w.) and delayed type hypersensitivity (0.5 and 5mg/kg b.w.) mediated by T cells, reducing subcutaneous tissue leukocyte infiltration. AEEm inhibited, in vitro, NO production by stimulating J774 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with no cytotoxicity. We have demonstrated, for the first time, its immunosuppressive effect. This immunosuppressive effect supports a potential therapeutic use of AEEm to control exacerbated humoral and/or cellular immune response, as in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. However, it is important to be cautious about its indiscriminate popular use to avoid side effects, mainly in immunodeficiency diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, do Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Chaves
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Giselle Cristine Gonçalves
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Alessandra Mendonça
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Cynthia Chester
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Patrícia Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Elizabeth Andrade
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Marsen Garcia Pinto
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Kátia Costa
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Sabino
mesh_terms: D034901:Alismataceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water