title: Capparis Spinosa L. promotes anti-inflammatory response in vitro through the control of cytokine gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: Capparis Spinosa L. is an aromatic plant growing wild in dry regions around the Mediterranean basin. Capparis Spinosa was shown to possess several properties such as antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-hepatotoxic actions. In this work, we aimed to evaluate immunomodulatory properties of Capparis Spinosa leaf extracts in vitro on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals.
  
  
  
  Using MTT assay, we identified a range of Capparis Spinosa doses, which were not toxic. Unexpectedly, we found out that Capparis Spinosa aqueous fraction exhibited an increase in cell metabolic activity, even though similar doses did not affect cell proliferation as shown by CFSE. Interestingly, Capparis Spinosa aqueous fraction appeared to induce an overall anti-inflammatory response through significant inhibition of IL-17 and induction of IL-4 gene expression when PBMCs were treated with the non toxic doses of 100 and/or 500 μg/ml. Phytoscreening analysis of the used Capparis Spinosa preparations showed that these contain tannins; sterols, alkaloids; polyphenols and flavonoids. Surprisingly, quantification assays showed that our Capparis Spinosa preparation contains low amounts of polyphenols relative to Capparis Spinosa used in other studies. This Capparis Spinosa also appeared to act as a weaker scavenging free radical agent as evidenced by DPPH radical scavenging test. Finally, polyphenolic compounds including catechin, caffeic acid, syringic acid, rutin and ferulic acid were identified by HPLC, in the Capparis spinosa preparation.
  
  
  
  Altogether, these findings suggest that our Capparis Spinosa preparation contains interesting compounds, which could be used to suppress IL-17 and to enhance IL-4 gene expression in certain inflammatory situations. Other studies are underway in order to identify the compound(s) underlying this effect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology and Cellular and Genetic engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.|Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moutia
authors.affiliation: Research team Health and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Safi, Morocco.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Azhary
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthesis, Extraction and Physicochemical study of organic molecules, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Anass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elouaddari
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthesis, Extraction and Physicochemical study of organic molecules, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdellah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Jahid
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthesis, Extraction and Physicochemical study of organic molecules, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jamal Eddine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Fouad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seghrouchni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hematology and Cellular and Genetic engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.|Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Norddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habti
authors.affiliation: Research team Health and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Safi, Morocco. abdallahbadou@yahoo.com.|Present Address: Cellular and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco. abdallahbadou@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4849-9085
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badou
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D031484:Capparis / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000737:chemistry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D009018:Morocco; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D016207:Cytokines; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C017616:phenolic acid; C040048:caffeic acid; D000432:Methanol; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide
keywords: Anti-inflammation; Capparis Spinosa; Cell proliferation; Cell viability; Cytokines; Gene expression; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells