title: Immunomodulatory effect of Hibiscus cannabinus extract on macrophage functions.
abstract: Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae) (known as Kenaf) has long been used as a folk medicine in India and Africa for the treatment of blood and throat disorders, bilious conditions, fever and puerperium. In this study, therefore, we aimed either to demonstrate its ethnopharmacological activity by examining its macrophage function-regulating effects or to expand its therapeutic efficacy into other macrophage-mediated diseases. The total crude extract (EtOH extract) of Hibiscus cannabinus fresh leaves, prepared with 80% ethanol, significantly suppressed TNF-alpha production and the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-12 in the RAW264.7 cells, stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2.5 microg/ml). The secretion of inflammatory mediators (i.e., nitric oxide [NO], reactive oxygen species [ROS] and prostaglandin E(2) [PGE(2)]) was diminished by the EtOH extract. The extract induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA, a potent cytoprotective molecule. The Kenaf extract suppressed both the phagocytic uptake and the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) of LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. It is interesting that Kenaf also down-regulated both the functional activation of beta1-integrin (CD29) and the LPS-induced up-regulation of the surface CD29 level. Taken together, these data suggest that Kenaf may be able to modulate macrophage-mediated responses and that some of the activities may contribute to expand its therapeutic usage.
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Hyoja-2-dong, Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.forename: Joo Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Man Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Sungyoul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jin Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Han Shin
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myong Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007377:Interleukin-3; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1