Hawthorn extract inhibits human isolated neutrophil functions.
Hawthorn extract is a popular herbal medicine given as adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure. In contrast to the cardiac properties of hawthorn extract, its anti-inflammatory effect has been scarcely investigated. This study examines the effects of a dry extract of leaves and flowers of Crataegus laevigata on various functional outputs of human neutrophils in vitro. Incubation of human neutrophils obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors with C. laevigata extract (0.75-250 microg/ml) inhibited N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion generation, elastase release and chemotactic migration with potency values of 43.6, 21.9, and 31.6 microg/ml, respectively. By contrast, serum-opsonized zymosan-induced phagocytosis was unaltered by plant extract. C. laevigata extract (125 microg/ml) reduced FMLP-induced leukotriene B(4) production and lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8. Extract inhibited FMLP-induced intracellular calcium signal with potency of 17.4 microg/ml. Extract also markedly inhibited the extracellular calcium entry into calcium-depleted neutrophils, and the thapsigargin-induced intracellular calcium response. In conclusion, C. laevigata extract inhibited various functional outputs of activated human neutrophils which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of cardiac failure.
Service of Cardiology, Associated University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia, Spain.
Ernesto
E
Dalli
Javier
J
Milara
Julio
J
Cortijo
Esteban J
EJ
Morcillo
Juan
J
Cosín-Sales
José Francisco
JF
Sotillo
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000378:metabolism; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects
D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D002118:Calcium