title: The influence of hydro-ethanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea L. on Th1/Th2balance in isolated human lymphocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants activity of Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea) were mentioned in traditional texts. In previous studies, different anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of P. oleracea were demonstrated. However, the mechanism of action and immunomodulatory property of this plant are greatly unknown. In the present study, the effect of the extract of this plant on IL-4, IL10, IFN-γ and T helper (h)1/Th2 balance in non-stimulated and stimulated human lymphocytes was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of three concentrations (160, 40 and 10µg/ml) of P. oleracea or dexamethasone were evaluated on percentage of cell proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) production as well as secretion of cytokines (IL-4, IL10 and IFN-γ) in PHA-stimulated and non-stimulated lymphocytes, and compared to control and dexamethasone as positive control (n=15 for each group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In stimulated cells, dexamethasone significantly inhibited the percentage of cell proliferation, NO production, and secretion of cytokines in comparison to control group (P<0.001 for all cases). The percentage of cell proliferation, NO production, and secretion of cytokines were significantly decreased while Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4) and Treg/Th2 (IL-10/IL-4) balances significantly enhanced in treated groups with all three concentrations of extract compared to control group (P<0.001 for all cases). The effect of all concentrations of the extract on cell proliferation, NO production and secretion of cytokines as well as Treg/Th2 balance were significantly lower than dexamethasone (P<0.001 for all cases), but Th1/Th2 ratio obtained in the presence of only low extract concentration was lower than dexamethasone (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different concentrations of extract promoted Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th2 balances which may suggest the therapeutic value of the plant in inflammatory disease associated with decreased Th1/Th2 balance such as asthma or cancers.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid Reza
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Abdolrahim
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rezaee
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abnous
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy School of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iranshahi
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: boskabadymh@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031822:Portulaca / Q000737:chemistry*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: IFN-γ; IL-10; IL-4; Nitric Oxide; Portulaca oleracea L.; Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4) balance; Treg/Th2 (IL-10/IL-4) balance