Selective Th1 upregulation by ethyl acetate fraction of Labisia pumila.
OBJECTIVE
Labisia pumila has rejuvenating properties that help women to regain the strength and vigour after giving birth (Burkill, 1935) leading us to speculate that Labisia pumila might also modulate the immune matrix as it is one of the important aspect of healthy state of the living body.


METHODS
Studies were carried out for the evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine neutrophils followed by expression of T cell-surface markers and corresponding intracellular expression of cytokines related to T helper1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2) activity.


RESULTS
The ethyl acetate fraction (A001/3b) obtained from ethanolic extract of leaves of Labisia pumila at graded doses (in vitro) showed increased expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12. IL-12 is a strong inducer of Th1 response in activated CD4+ T cells and accordingly T cell studies were carried out (in vivo). These specific studies showed A001/3b to cause marked stimulation of CD4+ T helper cells and related cytokine expression like IL-2 and IFN-gamma (a potent Th1 inducer), thereby, having a predominant Th1 upregulation pathway. This was further validated by suppression of IL-4 and IL-10 expression which are the Th2 pathway cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed ethyl acetate fraction (A001/3b) of Labisia pumila to have Th1 upregulating activity and suggests its possible usefulness as a therapeutic agent in immune compromised patients.
Pandey
Anjali
A
Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi 180001, Jammu and Kashmir State, India. anjali290284@yahoo.co.in
Bani
Sarang
S
Sangwan
Payarelal
P
Koul
Surrinder
S
D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000085:Acetates; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C007650:ethyl acetate