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Divergent immunomodulatory effects of extracts and phenolic compounds from the fern Osmunda japonica Thunb.

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Abstract

Objective

To study possible immunobiological potential of Osmunda japonica Thunb.

Methods

Immunomodulatory effects of ethanol extracts prepared from rhizomes of O. japonica and phenolic compounds isolated from the extracts were investigated under the in vitro conditions using the rat peritoneal cells (2×106/mL; 24 h culture). Biosynthesis of nitric oxide (NO) was assayed by Griess reagent, production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and secretion of cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.

Results

The extracts activated dose dependently, with the onset at 2.5–5 μmol/L concentrations, the high output NO production, and secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Mild enhancement of NO was produced by the aldehyde-type phenolics 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 3,4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. In contrasts, the acetone-type phenolics 4-hydroxybenzalacetone and 3,4-hydroxybenzalacetone inhibited production of immune mediators including cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), NO, and PGE2. The 3,4-hydroxybenzalacetone was more effective than 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The IC50s estimates ranged within the interval of 5–10 μmol/L. No signs of cytotoxicity were observed up to the 50 μmol/L concentration of the compounds.

Conclusion

Phenolic compounds contained in medicinal herb Osmunda japonica possess distinct immunomodulatory activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China

    Xiao-xin Zhu  (朱晓新), Yu-jie Li  (李玉洁), Lan Yang  (杨 岚), Dong Zhang  (张 东), Ying Chen  (陈 颖), Xiao-gang Weng  (翁小刚) & Qing Yang  (杨 庆)

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 14200, Czech Republic

    Eva Kmonickova & Zdeněk Zídek

  3. Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, 30166, Czech Republic

    Eva Kmonickova

Authors
  1. Xiao-xin Zhu  (朱晓新)
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  2. Yu-jie Li  (李玉洁)
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  3. Lan Yang  (杨 岚)
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  7. Xiao-gang Weng  (翁小刚)
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  8. Qing Yang  (杨 庆)
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Correspondence to Zdeněk Zídek.

Additional information

Supported by the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program of the People’s Republic of China (No. 2011DFA30870), and by the bilateral grant from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (No. ME10116).

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Zhu, Xx., Li, Yj., Yang, L. et al. Divergent immunomodulatory effects of extracts and phenolic compounds from the fern Osmunda japonica Thunb.. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 19, 761–770 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1460-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1460-4

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