title: Barberry's (Berberis integerrima) ingredients suppress T-cell response and shift immune responses toward Th2: anin vitrostudy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Food and medicinal applications of barberry date back to 2500 years ago. This study investigatesBerberis integerrimaimpact on lymphocytic immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Balb/c splenocytes were treated by 0.001-1000 μg/ml ofB. integerrimaaqueous and alcoholic extracts in presence of phytohemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide mitogens. Cell proliferation was assayed and cytokines were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both extracts suppressed proliferation of phytohemagglutinin stimulated splenocytes (as T cells), while alcoholic extract induced expansion of lipopolysaccharide activated cells (as B lymphocytes) and unstimulated cells (p < 0.05). Both barberry extracts suppressed IFN-γ production (p < 0.05) and enhanced IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β release from splenocytes (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both extracts could suppress T-cell and enhance B-cell proliferation and shift immune responses toward Th2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fateh
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shaghayegh Pishkhan
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Dibazar
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daneshmandi
keywords: Berberis integerrima; MTT; barberry extract; immune response; lymphocyte; splenocytes