Immunosuppressive effects of Euphorbia hirta in experimental animals.
Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae) (E. hirta) is a tree locally used as a traditional medicine in Africa and Australia to treat numerous diseases such as hypertension, respiratory ailments, tumors, wounds, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory activities, etc. Therefore, we undertook to investigate their immunomodulatory effect on T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ receptors) and Th1 cytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in a dose-dependent manner. E. hirta ethanol extract at 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses was given orally for 7 days from the day of immunization. E. hirta maximum inhibition at 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o. was found to significantly block the production of the cell-mediated immune response, (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ receptors) and (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and also prolongs graft rejection. E. hirta also showed a decrease of delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) response and dose-related decrease in the primary antibody response, respectively. Based on the data, it can be suggested that E. hirta is a potent and non-toxic immunosuppressor, which can be further explored for the development of potent immunosuppressor.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, PO Box 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. s_fayazahmad@yahoo.com
Sheikh Fayaz
SF
Ahmad
Beenish
B
Khan
Sarang
S
Bani
Anpurna
A
Kaul
Phalisteen
P
Sultan
Sheikh Abid
SA
Ali
N K
NK
Satti
Saleh A
SA
Bakheet
Sabry M
SM
Attia
Khairy M A
KM
Zoheir
Adel R A
AR
Abd-Allah
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma