Immunostimulating Effect of Aqueous Extract of <em>Amphypterygium Adstringens</em> on Immune Cellular Response in Immunosuppressed Mice

Abstract

Amphypterygium adstringens is a Mexican tree known as cuachalalate whose bark is habitually used for the treatment of fresh wounds, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal cancer and various inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunostimulant effect of the aqueous extract of A. adstringens on immune cellular response in immunosuppressed mice. An aqueous extract from the bark of cuachalalate was administered into BALB/c mice for 10 days. We assessed their immunostimmulant activity on cellular immune response by Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Response (DHT) to dinitrofluorobencene (DNFB) and by MTT assay. L5178Y lymphoma was used as immunossuppression model. An increase in DHT was observed after treatment with 10 and 100 mg/kg of the aqueous extract from A. adstringens oral treatment in lymphoma bearing mice. Splenocyte proliferation rate was significantly increased (2.5 time) in immunosuppresed mice treated with 10 mg/kg oral treatment compared with group that received vehicle only. The present study showed for the first time the aqueous extract from A. adstringens as a positive immunostimulant agent in lymphoma bearing mice and we demonstrated evidence to support the traditionally use of cuachalalate in conditions in which the immune system is depressed.

Amphipterygium adstringens (Schltdl.) Schiede ex Standl (Anacardiaceae): An Endemic Plant with Relevant Pharmacological Properties

“…Furthermore, although there are few studies on the anticancer properties of the aqueous extract of the stem bark, ability to restore the immunological parameters of immunocompromised mice with L5178Y lymphoma has been reported. Moreover, oral administration of the extract for ten days (10 and 100 mg/kg) induced an increase in the immune cell response and the proliferation of splenocytes in the animals [50].…”

“…Masticadienonic and 3α-hydroxymasticadienonic acids were isolated from the hexane extract, which inhibited the growth of five human cancer cell lines and stimulated nitric oxide production in macrophages [7]. Recently, it was reported that 3α-hydroxymasticadienonic acid induced the maturation of dendritic cells, which present antigens and are involved in the T lymphocyte activation [9,50]. Interestingly, the coadministration of dendritic cells with triterpene to melanoma mice decreased tumor growth and increased the area of cell death in tumors [9].…”

Medicinal Plants from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Used as Immunostimulants

“…Carlowrightia cordifolia showed poor immunostimulatory effects [ 17 ]. Amphipterygium adstringens showed in vivo immunostimulatory effects [ 51 ], whereas masticadienonic acid ( Figure 1 ), its active compound at 0.001 μ M, increased the NO production (1.8 fold) with higher activity compared to 0.001 μ M ursolic acid (1.4 fold) [ 55 ]. Uncaria tomentosa showed in vitro immunostimulatory effects [ 50 ], whereas pteridine ( Figure 1 ), its active compound, tested at 600 mg/kg i.p., increased the lymphocyte proliferation in immunocompetent mice [ 59 ].…”

Draft Genome Sequence of an Endophytic Actinoplanes Species, Encoding Uncommon trans -Acyltransferase Polyketide Synthases

“…Actinoplanes sp. was isolated from Amphipterygium adstringens (K. Rodríguez-Peña, M. Macías-Rubalcava, L. Rocha Zavaleta, R. Rodríguez-Sanoja, S. Sanchez, unpublished data), a medicinal plant that exhibits a broad range of biological properties, including antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities ( 3 – 5 ). Furthermore, Actinoplanes spp.…”