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Medicinal plants with immunomodulatory properties

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Immunomodulation is basically a process that can alter the immune system of an organism by interfering with its functions. The current approach is to know about the medicinal plants that are biologically active and could potentially be of help in the development of modern and new immunomodulating agents. As in modern-day life, extensive exposure to industry-based pollutants/xenobiotics has resulted in the emergence of a variety of immune deficiencies or hypersensitivity situations, where immunology can play an important role. The inference results in either immune-stimulation, an enhancement of immune reactions, or immune-suppression imply mainly to reduce resistance against infection, stress which may be because of environmental or chemotherapeutic factors. Bioactive natural products provide the excellent raw material for the discovery and development of novel immune-modulatory compounds. A good number of bioactive natural products used as medicinal plants have stood the test of time, particularly for the treatment of allergic metabolic and degenerative diseases associated with aging. These bioactive natural products are believed to promote positive health and maintain organic resistance against infections by reestablishing body equilibrium and conditioning the body tissues. A large variety of natural bioactive plants mentioned in Ayurveda for their immunomodulation, adaptogenic and rejuvenating properties have been under study.
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In all over world the importance of traditional medicine for the use as treatment against of life threatening diseases is acceptable. Due to heavy potency and availability of the natural sources it’s easy to utilize this traditional knowledge for treatment, prevention or mitigation against diseases. In this chapter we discuss about different potent Immuno-modulating drugs which majorly act as immune stimulant. From the ancient time these drugs having potent active constituent which shown prominent effect in treatment of diseases. Considering efficiency with safety plant derived drugs having very global market this review discusses immunomodulating plant with their active constituent.
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Bioactive natural products are proving to be a rich source of novel therapeutics to both protect against and combat diseases, as well as serve as lead compounds in crop protection. Following the successful format of the first edition, this volume brings together collective research from many new contributors and emphasizes the rationale behind the successful detection, isolation, and structure determination of specific compounds. The text encompasses a diverse range of techniques that can be applied to terrestrial and aquatic sources. It also allows you to understand how source material can be selected to enhance your opportunity to discover and utilize novel bioactive natural products. New to the Second Edition- • Advances in the application of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, bioactive chemical detection and extraction, dereplication, and novel bioassay development • New case studies and illustrations that demonstrate the practical applications of specific techniques • A group of new contributors presenting research from their own laboratories that emphasize both the philosophy and rationale behind detection, isolation, and structural determination Following an overview of natural product chemistry techniques and approaches, many new chapters discuss selection of source material, quantitative NMR, high speed counter-current chromatography, dereplication of extracts, and methods to determine the stereochemistry of bioactive natural products. Examinations of new technologies including LC-NMR, biosensors, and biofingerprinting accompany discussions on the search for specific activities in anticancer and antimalarial applications, seed germination stimulation, and mammalian toxicity. With the participation from active researchers, this definitive work supplies a vital extension and an enduring contribution to the science and art of bioactive natural product detection, isolation, and structural determination.
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The past few decades have generated growing recognition that the immune system makes an important contribution to cardiac development, composition and function. Immune cells infiltrate the heart at gestation and remain in the myocardium, where they participate in essential housekeeping functions throughout life. After myocardial infarction or in response to infection, large numbers of immune cells are recruited to the heart to remove dying tissue, scavenge pathogens and promote healing. Under some circumstances, immune cells can cause irreversible damage, contributing to heart failure. This Review focuses on the role of the immune system in the heart under both homeostatic and perturbed conditions.
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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a spectrum of diseases involving the heart and blood vessels, and the first cause of mortality worldwide. Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years to treat CVD. In Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), there is a special focus on heart diseases. Avicenna, a Persian physician of the eleventh century compiled a book devoted to this field named "The treatise on cardiac drugs" which is a compendium of TPM knowledge on CVD. Avicenna mentioned 50 cardiovascular active plants and described their therapeutic effects in the treatment of CVDs. Methods: Here, we perform a detailed search in scientific databases to verify the cardiovascular activities of the medicinal plants suggested by Avicenna. Also, we discussed cardiovascular activities of a number of the most important suggested plants as well as their efficacy in clinical studies. Major bioactive compounds identified from these plants are also discussed. Results: Pharmacological studies have revealed that the majority of these plants are effective in cardiovascular health with various mechanisms. Among them, Crocus sativus L., Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl, Punica granatum L., Ocimum basilicum L., Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton, Melissa officinalis L. and Phyllanthus emblica L. have proved to be more effective. Conclusions: The above-mentioned plants can be rich sources for developing new and effective pharmaceuticals for the treatment of CVDs.
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Picrorhiza kurroa is an important medicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The root and rhizome of this plant are used for the treatment of various liver and inflammatory conditions. In the present study, we sought to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of P. kurroa rhizome extract against carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet implantation-induced granuloma formation in rats. In addition, its immunomodulatory activity was evaluated in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced stimulation of a peritoneal macrophage model and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Pretreatment with P. kurroa rhizome extract inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in a dose-dependent manner. This was associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) accompanied with increased anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the serum and peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, P. kurroa rhizome extract inhibited inflammatory TNF-receptor 1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced activated peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, P. kurroa rhizome extract treatment significantly inhibited iNOS and suppressed the activation of NF-κB through inhibition of its phosphorylation and by blocking the activation of IκB kinase alpha in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that P. kurroa has anti-inflammatory activity that is mediated through the suppression of macrophage-derived cytokine and mediators via suppression of NF-κB signaling. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
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Nycranthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), a plant widely used in the traditional medicinal systems of India, has recently been reported to possess hepatoprotective. antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activities. In the present study strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity, as evidenced by increases in humoral and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and in the macrophage migration index (MMI), has been demonstrated in mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of seeds, flowers and leaves of this plant. Maximum activity was found in the seeds in which the active principle(s) appear to be mainly associated with lipids. In flowers and leaves, however, the major activity was found in the aqueous fraction of the 50% ethanol extract. The im-munostimulant substance(s) found in N. arbor-rrisris L. are likely to play a role in its antiamoebic, antileishmanial, antiviral and certain other activities.
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The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) [2–8]. CD4-positive lymphocytes were shown to be one major target in HIV-1 infections [9–10]. Apart of CD4+ cell depletion, the functional impairment of the T-cell system also plays an important role in the progress of this disease [11, 12, 13].
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The crude cold water-extractable polysaccharide isolated from the holoparasite Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma. was separated into several fractions by cetavlon precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. The immunological properties of the fractions were characterized using mitogenic and comitogenic rat thymocytes tests. The most potent fraction after purification by gel filtration yielded the polysaccharide cistan A. It was composed of L-arabinose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and D-galacturonic acid in the mole ratio 6.3:10.0:1.0:0.8, in addition to minute amounts of D-xylose and D-glucose. The relative mean molecular mass was 201 × 103. The results of chemical and spectroscopic investigations indicated the cistan A to comprise a complex of pectic arabino-3,6-galactan type II with lowly-branched 3,5-α-L-arabinan. The polysaccharide exhibits remarkable immunomodulatory activities exceeding those of the commercial immunomodulator Zymosan.
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The Immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus carica (Moraceae) was investigated in mice. The study was carried out by various hematological and serological tests. Administration of extract remarkably ameliorated both cellular and humoral antibody response. It is concluded that the test extract possessed promising immunostimulant properties.
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In this study, we investigated the protective ability of the addition of two antioxidant herb extracts, mate tea and lemon balm, on boar epididymal frozen–thawed spermatozoa quality. Testes from mature boars were collected at local slaughterhouse, and sperm samples from epididymis were recovered by flushing. Spermatozoa were cryopreserved in lactose–egg yolk buffer supplemented with various concentrations of lemon balm and mate tea (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 g l−1) using the straw-freezing procedure. Motion parameters, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, lipoperoxidation levels and DNA oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine base lesion) were evaluated. There were no differences among experimental groups with regard to motility characteristics, viability, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity; however, the highest concentration of lemon balm produced significant (P < 0.05) improvement in curvilinear trajectory, straightness and amplitude of lateral head displacement after thawing. The supplementation of freezing extender with mate tea and lemon balm reduced sperm lipid membrane peroxidation, and only mate tea protected DNA against oxidative damage during cryopreservation at 120 min post-thawing (P < 0.05). Mate tea experimental extender at concentration of 10 g l−1 showed the lowest percentage of sperm oxidised DNA and malondialdehyde generation; thus, mate tea is a potential candidate such as antioxidant compound on boar sperm cryopreservation medium.
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Present investigation was planned to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of leaves of Centella asiatica (CA) on neutrophil phagocytic function. The various concentrations (25, 50 and 100 mg/ml) of the extract was subjected to study its effect on different in vitro methods of phagocytosis such as neutrophil locomotion and chemotaxis, immunostimulant activity by phagocytosis of killed Candida albicans and qualitative nitro blue tetrazolium test using human neutrophils. The results of this preliminary study revealed that CA extract has stimulated chemotactic, phagocytic and intracellular killing potency of human neutrophils at the concentration range of 25-100 mg/ml. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of CA stimulates cell-mediated immune system by increasing neutrophil phagocytic function.
Article
During the screening of compounds that potentiate the effect of antimicrobial agents against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), we found that an extract of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) leaves greatly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tetracycline against MRSA. We isolated the effective compound and identified it as baicalein (5, 6, 7‐trihydroxyflavone). One of the clinically isolated MRSA strains possessed tetK, a gene encoding active efflux pump for tetracycline. We examined the effect of baicalein on the efflux of tetracycline, using Escherichia coli KAM32/pTZ1252 carrying the tetK. The E. coli KAM32/pTZ1252 showed 8 to 16 times higher MIC than E. coli KAM32. We observed strong inhibition of transport of tetracycline by baicalein with membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KAM32/pTZ1252. Baicalein also showed synergy with tetracycline in a MRSA strain that doesn't possess tetK, or with β‐lactams. Thus, mechanisms of the synergies seem to be versatile.