title: Evaluation of cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts and lectins from Moringa oleifera seeds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extract from Moringa oleifera seeds is used worldwide, especially in rural areas of developing countries, to treat drinking water. M. oleifera seeds contain the lectins cmol and WSMoL, which are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are able to reduce water turbidity because of their coagulant activity. Studies investigating the ability of natural products to damage normal cells are essential for the safe use of these substances. This study evaluated the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties of the aqueous seed extract, the extract used by population to treat water (named diluted seed extract in this work), and the isolated lectins cmol and WSMoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed that the aqueous seed extract and cmol were potentially cytotoxic to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while WSMoL and diluted seed extract were not cytotoxic. The M. oleifera aqueous seed extract and the lectins cmol and WSMoL were weakly/moderately cytotoxic to the NCI-H292, HT-29 and HEp-2 cancer cell lines and were not hemolytic to murine erythrocytes. Evaluation of acute toxicity in mice revealed that the aqueous seed extract (2.000 mg/kg) did not cause systemic toxicity. The aqueous seed extract, cmol and WSMoL (6.25 µg/mL) and diluted seed extract at 50 µg/mL exhibited anti-inflammatory activity on lipopolyssaccharide-stimulated murine macrophages by regulating the production of nitric oxide, TNF-α and IL-1β. The aqueous seed extract reduced leukocyte migration in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy; the myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were similarly reduced. Histological analysis of the lungs showed that the extract reduced the number of leukocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the extract prepared according to folk use and WSMoL may be non-toxic to mammalian cells; however, the aqueous seed extract and cmol may be cytotoxic to immune cells which may explain the immunosuppressive potential of the extract.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ; Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Cardoso Corrêa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaciana Santos
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Henrique
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Virgínia Barreto
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Luiz Souza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maiara Celine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Cavalcanti
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Coriolano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teresinha Gonçalves
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Guedes
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037121:Plant Lectins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002351:Carrageenan; D009195:Peroxidase