Immunomodulatory activity of oenothein B isolated from Epilobium angustifolium.
Epilobium angustifolium has been traditionally used to treat of a number of diseases; however, not much is known regarding its effect on innate immune cells. In this study, we report that extracts of E. angustifolium activated functional responses in neutrophils and monocyte/macrophages. Activity-guided fractionation, followed by mass spectroscopy and NMR analysis, resulted in the identification of oenothein B as the primary component responsible for phagocyte activation. Oenothein B, a dimeric hydrolysable tannin, dose-dependently induced a number of phagocyte functions in vitro, including intracellular Ca(2+) flux, production of reactive oxygen species, chemotaxis, NF-kappaB activation, and proinflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, oenothein B was active in vivo, inducing keratinocyte chemoattractant production and neutrophil recruitment to the peritoneum after intraperitoneal administration. Biological activity required the full oenothein B structure, as substructures of oenothein B (pyrocatechol, gallic acid, pyrogallol, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) were all inactive. The ability of oenothein B to modulate phagocyte functions in vitro and in vivo suggests that this compound is responsible for at least part of the therapeutic properties of E. angustifolium extracts.
Schepetkin
Igor A
IA
Departments of Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Kirpotina
Liliya N
LN
Jakiw
Larissa
L
Khlebnikov
Andrei I
AI
Blaskovich
Christie L
CL
Jutila
Mark A
MA
Quinn
Mark T
MT
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D031666:Epilobium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C080077:oenothein B; D002118:Calcium