The immunomodulatory potential of Leonurus cardiaca extract in relation to endothelial cells and platelets

Abstract

The immunomodulatory activity of Leonurus cardiaca L. polyphenol-rich extract (LCE) was tested in vitro on HUVECs to explore its potential therapeutic usefulness in the treatment of inflammatory lesions. The phytochemical composition of LCE, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, and the influence of LCE on NO and platelet-activating factor (PAF) secretion by HUVECs and platelet aggregation were all assessed. Total polyphenol contents in LCE reached 137.0 ± 0.8 mg/g, with hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives as the predominant phenolic compounds. LCE expressed antioxidant capacity, which was, however, 13- to 16-fold lower than the antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid. The plant extract was not cytotoxic up to a concentration 4500 µg/ml and did not exhibit proapoptotic activity. LCE significantly increased NO production in HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner and led to the inhibition of PAF secretion induced by staphylococcal peptidoglycan. The extract used at the concentration of 100 µg/ml significantly reduced platelet aggregation in the presence of arachidonic acid. We provide in vitro data demonstrating the immunomodulatory potential of LCE, which may be beneficial in preventing the development of difficult-to-treat inflammatory lesions within chronically infected tissues.

Hepatoprotection of Mentha aquatica L., Lavandula dentata L. and Leonurus cardiaca L.

“…At the scientific level, the bioactive properties of M. aquatica , L. dentata and L. cardiaca have been mostly associated with their phenolic constituents, which are generally major components in extracts obtained with polar solvents (e.g., water, ethanol, methanol, water/alcohol or water/acetone mixtures). The antioxidant capacity of polar extracts from these three plants has been previously tested through chemical antiradical assays [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Besides, neuroprotective effects of methanolic and aqueous extracts of M. aquatica aerial parts were shown to counteract oxidative stress in an H 2 O 2 -induced toxicity model in PC12 cells, along with the high ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) and a moderate affinity towards GABA A receptor [6,21].…”

Leonurus cardiaca L. as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: An Update of the European Medicines Agency Assessment Report (2010)

“…The immunomodulatory potential of acetone/water extract of L. cardiaca at a 100 µ g/ml concentration was assessed by Sadowska et al [35], revealing a significant reduction of the platelet aggregation in the presence of arachidonic acid, an application that could be beneficial in preventing inflammatory lesions. In the same time, the tested extract did not exhibit proapoptotic activity.…”

“…The antioxidant activity of L. cardiaca products was evaluated using several methods. Sadowska et al [35] evaluated the antioxidant potential of L. cardiaca extract by ABTS ∙ , DPPH ∙ , and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, obtaining values of the antioxidant capacity in the range 350±20–455±17 µ M Trolox/g. Ebrahimzadeh et al [47] evaluated the antioxidant potential of Iranian native L. cardiaca extract obtained from dried aerial parts by percolation using methanol, by comparison with Grammosciadium platycarpum and Onosma demawendicum extracts.…”

Leonurus cardiaca L., das Echte Herzgespann

“…Die Autoren verweisen aber darauf, dass mit der ebenfalls nachgewiesenen blutgerinnungshemmenden Wirkung der Extrakte möglicherweise nachteilige Folgen bei Infektionen mit Staphylococcus aureus verbunden sein könnten [20]. Die Hemmung der Blutgerinnung durch einen Polyphenol-reichen Leonurus-cardiaca-Extrakt, vermittelt durch Inhibierung des Plättchen-aktivierenden Faktors (PAF), wird ebenso von anderen Autoren beschrieben [21].…”