title: Investigation of the cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects of Ligusticum porteri (Osha) root extract on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ligusticum porteri is a traditional Native American herb. The roots of L. porteri are traditionally used in the treatment of many diseases, however, its cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects need to be investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the root extract at different doses on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The lymphocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the root extracts (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) and harvested every 6 h for 2 d (P<0.05). The protective effect of the herb against oxidative damage was determined by inducing oxidative stress with the administration of 50 μmol/L of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatments with L. porteri at 200 and 400 μg/mL increased the viability of PBLs. The deleterious effect of H2O2was ameliorated by 400 μg/mL L. porteri treatment. Addition of 400 μg/mL L. porteri reduced lipid peroxidation in stressed PBLs by 94% (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL of L. porteri resulted in a 26.4% increase of reduced glutathione levels. Activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase increased by 17.5% and 55.2% respectively, when stressed PBLs were treated with 400 μg/mL L. porteri for 2 d (P<0.05). Treatment with 400 μg/mL L. porteri increased interferon-γ and interleukin-2 expressions in H2O2-challenged PBLs (P<0.05), however, the root extract did not cause a significant difference in interleukin-10 levels compared to the control (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that L. porteri might be a potential immune-modulating agent involving protective effects against oxidative damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, USA.
authors.forename: Khanh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, USA.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, USA.
authors.forename: Felix O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Omoruyi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D030004:Ligusticum; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione