Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41113
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Immunomodulatory Activities of Flavonoids, Monoterpenoids, Triterpenoids, Iridoid Glycosides and Phenolic Compounds of Plantago Species
Publication History
Received: November 6, 2002
Accepted: March 12, 2003
Publication Date:
04 August 2003 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/plantamedica/200307/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2003-41113-1.jpg)
Abstract
A number of Plantago spp. especially P. major has long been used in the treatment of diseases such as infection, inflammation and cancer. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory activities of five chemical classes of pure compounds obtained from the Plantago genus on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Studies were conducted on lymphocyte transformation by BrdU immunoassay and secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) using an ELISA assay. Results showed that the water-soluble compounds, namely aucubin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid, enhanced the activity of human lymphocyte proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ. Among the water-insoluble compounds, with the exception of luteolin, both baicalein and baicalin showed an enhancement of the human PBMC. Although oleanolic acid and ursolic acid of the triterpenoids did not significantly affect the proliferation of PBMC, they exhibited a strong stimulation of IFN-γ secretion. Linalool, a monoterpenoid, showed a similar immunomodulatory activity as the triterpenoids. The present study concludes that the tested compounds, which possess immunostimulating activities, may contribute to the traditional claims of Plantago-based natural products used in treating cancers and infectious diseases.
Key words
Immunomodulatory activity - Plantago species - Plantagiaceae - flavonoids - monoterpenoids - triterpenoids - iridoid glycosides - phenolics
References
- 1 Samuelsen A B. The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 71 1-21
- 2 Lin L C, Kuo Y C, Chou C J. Immunomodulatory principles of Dichrocephala bicolor . J Nat Prod. 1999; 62 405-8
- 3 Hirabayashi T, Ochiai H, Sakai S, Nakagima K, Terasawa K. Inhibitory effect of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid on murine interleukin-8 production in response to influenza virus infections in vitro and in vivo . Planta Med. 1995; 61 221-6
- 4 Sakai S, Ochiai H, Nakajima K, Terasawa K. Inhibitory effect of ferulic acid on macrophage inflammatory protein-2 production in murine macrophage cell line, Raw 264.7 Cytokine. 1997; 9 242-8
- 5 Hsu H Y, Yang J J, Lin C C. Effects of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid on inhibiting tumor growth and enhancing the recovery of hematopoietic system postradiation in mice. Cancer Lett. 1997; 111 7-13
- 6 Kim C J, Cho S K. Pharmacological activities of flavonoids (III) - structure-activity relationship of flavonoids in immunosuppression. Arch Pharm Res. 1991; 14 147-59
- 7 Abeysekera A M, De Silva K TD, De Silva S RP, Sirimanne V DP, Labadie R P, Van Den Berg A JJ. et al . et alInhibition of chemiluminescence generated by zymosan-activated polymorphonuclear leucocytes by phenolic constituents of Vernomia cinera . Fitoterapia. 1999; 70 317-9
- 8 Arnellal M, Bronner C, Briancon F, Haag M, Anton R, Landry Y. Inhibition of mast cell histamine release by flavonoids and biflavonoids. Planta Med. 1985; 51 16-21
- 9 Lin C C, Kan W S. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of hepatitis in Taiwan. Amer J Chin Med. 1990; 18 35-43
- 10 Yu L A, Xu Q L. Treatment of infectious hepatitis with an herbal decoction. Phytother Res. 1989; 3 13-14
- 11 Lithander A. Intracellular fluid of waybread (Plantago major) as a prophylactic for mammary cancer in mice. Tumor Biol. 1992; 13 138-41
- 12 Basaran A A, Ceritoglu I, Undeger U, Basarm N. Immunomodulatory activities of some Turkish medicinal plants. Phytother Res. 1997; 11 609-11
- 13 Darias V, Bravo L, Barquin E, Herrera D M, Fraile C. Contribution to the ethnopharmacological study of the Canary Islands. J Ethnopharmacol. 1986; 15 169-93
- 14 Porstmann T, Temynck T, Avrameas S. Quantitation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA: an enzyme immunoassay for the assessment of the lymphoid cell proliferative response. J Immunol Methods. 1985; 82 169-79
- 15 Bancroft G J, Schreiber R D, Bosma M J, Unanue E R. A T cell-independent mechanism of macrophage activation by IFN-gamma. J Immunol. 1987; 139 1104-7
- 16 Schreiber R D, Hicks L J, Celada A, Buchmeier N A, Gray P W. Monoclonal antibodies to murine gamma-IFN which differentially modulate macrophage activation and antiviral activity. J Immunol. 1985; 134 1609-18
- 17 Wheelock E F. IFN-like virus-inhibitor induced in human leukocytes by phytohemagglutinin. Science. 1965; 149 310-1
- 18 Boehm U, Klamp T, Groot M, Haward J C. Cellular responses to IFN-γ. Annu Rev Immunol. 1997; 15 749-95
- 19 Crane Jr J L, Glasgow L A, Kern E R, Youngner J S. Inhibition of murine osteogenic sarcomas by treatment with type I or type II IFN. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1978; 61 871-4
Professor C. C. Lin
Graduate Institute of Natural Products
Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung 807
Taiwan
R.O.C.
Phone: +886-7-3121101 ext 2122
Fax: +886-7-3135215
Email: aalin@ms24.hinetnet