Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Activity of Babassu Mesocarp Improves the Survival in Lethal Sepsis

Abstract

Attalea speciosa syn Orbignya phalerata Mart. (babassu) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases. Aim of the study. To investigate the antimicrobial and immunological activity of babassu mesocarp extract (EE). Material and Methods. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion assay and by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The flavonoids and phenolic acids content were determined by chromatography. The in vivo assays were performed in Swiss mice submitted to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The mice received EE subcutaneously (125 or 250 mg/Kg), 6 hours after the CLP. The number of lymphoid cells was quantified and the cytokines production was determined by ELISA after 12 h. Results. EE was effective as antimicrobial to E. faecalis, S. aureus, and MRSA. EE is rich in phenolic acids, a class of compounds with antimicrobial and immunological activity. An increased survival can be observed in those groups, possibly due to a significant inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6. Conclusions. The EE showed specific antimicrobial activity in vitro and an important antiseptic effect in vivo possibly due to the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity.

Antileishmanial and Immunomodulatory Effect of Babassu‐Loaded PLGA Microparticles: A Useful Drug Target to Leishmania amazonensis Infection

“…These findings suggest an immunomodulatory activity of these microparticles on the activation and polarization of M1 macrophages, in which an increased production of TNF- α and nitric oxide and, on the other hand, a reduced IL-10 production due to the slow release of the extract inside the cell was also observed. These results corroborate those of other studies regarding the immunomodulatory effect of BAE on the activation of macrophages [ 15 ], on the response of mice to Leishmania antigens [ 20 ], and on sepsis [ 17 ]. However, this is the first study showing the effect of babassu-loaded microparticles on the polarization of M2 to M1 macrophages during infection with L. amazonensis .…”

“…The BAE contains in their composition: polyphenols, including phenolic acids and flavonoids [ 17 ] and carbohydrates, with the presence of monosaccharides, reducing sugars, aldoses and ketoses, and protein [ 13 , 14 ]. These compounds may explain the efficacy of the babassu microparticles as an anti -Leishmania agent as demonstrated in the present study.…”

“…The aqueous extract has the following composition: 0.51 mg/mL protein and 29.8 mg/mL total sugar, including monosaccharides, reducing sugars, aldoses and ketoses, and polysaccharides according to HPAEC analysis [ 13 ]. The extract contained 56% total polyphenols, including 55% phenolic acids and 1% flavonoids [ 17 ].…”

“…Ethnobotanical data have shown the use of babassu mesocarp both as food and as medicine for the treatment of inflammation, gastric ulcers, rashes, and vulvovaginitis [ 8 ]. The aqueous extract of babassu mesocarp possesses several therapeutic effects already proven in preclinical trials such as healing [ 9 , 10 ], antitumor [ 11 – 13 ], anti-inflammatory [ 14 , 15 ], antimicrobial [ 16 , 17 ], and immunomodulatory activity [ 14 , 15 , 17 – 20 ].…”

Chemical constituent analysis of the Babassu (Orbignya phalerata Mart.) mesocarp

“…The flour obtained from the babassu mesocarp-after its drying, grinding, and roasting-is consumed as garnish in traditional dishes or drunk dissolved in water to treat rheumatism, ulcers, and inflammations [8,9]. Furthermore, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic activities have been reported [8,[10][11][12]. This work presents the very first report on the phytochemical composition of the Amazonian babassu mesocarp.…”