Immunostimulant effect of Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus seeds on thymic cells and their cytotoxicity.

Immunomodulators from natural products are widely used for the treatment of infectious diseases, allergies, and cancer in traditional Moroccan medicine. The purpose of this study was the study of two plant seeds of Brassica rapa (Turnip) and Raphanus sativus (Radish) used by Moroccans in traditional medicine to enhance immunity. We have prepared three different extracts from seeds using ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, or water. Immunomodulatory effects of these two plant seeds were tested on rabbit immunity cell proliferation (splenocytes, thymocytes, and macrophages) and their functions (IgG production, cytotoxicity, and phagocytosis). The results obtained indicated that only aqueous extract of B. rapa seeds revealed an immunostimulant effect on both splenocyte and thymocyte proliferation with an increase in cytotoxicity of thymocytes (MLR assay). With R. sativus seeds, we observed an important stimulation of thymocyte proliferation and their cytotoxicity under aqueous extract without effect on splenocyte or macrophages. We concluded that aqueous extract of both seeds (B. rapa and R. sativus) possessed immunostimulant properties leading to stimulation of cellular immunity responsible for defense against viruses.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies of the aqueous extract from leaves of Cistus ladaniferus L. in mice and rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cistus ladaniferus L. (C.ladaniferus) (Cistaceae) is an aromatic shrub native to the Mediterranean region. The leaves are widely used in traditional medicine throughout Morocco for the treatment of various diseases including, diabetes, diarrhea, inflammation, and skin ailments. However, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic study concerning its toxicity profile has been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study carried out evaluates the potential toxicity of the aqueous extract from leaves of the C.ladaniferus (CL extract) shrub, through the method of acute and sub-chronic oral administration in mice and rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the acute toxicity study, male and female mice were orally administrated with CL aqueous extract at single doses of 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000mg/kg (n = 5/group/sex). Abnormal behavior, toxic symptoms, weight, and death were observed for 14 consecutive days to assess the acute toxicity. During the sub-chronic toxicity study, the aqueous extract was administered orally at doses of 500, 700 and 1000mg/kg (n = 6/group) daily to Wistar rats of both sexes for 90 days. The general behavior of the rats was observed daily, and their body weight was recorded weekly. A urinalysis, biochemical analysis, hematological analysis, macroscopic examination and histopathological examination of several organs were conducted at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: During the acute toxicity test, when mice were administered doses of 3000 and 5000mg/kg, the CL extract produced a 10-30% mortality rate, respectively, and induced signs of toxicity. However, no mortality or adverse effect was noted at the doses of 1000 and 2000mg/kg. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was estimated to be more than 5000mg/kg. In the subchronic study, the CL extract induced no mortality or treatment-related adverse effects with regard to body weight, general behavior, relative organ weights, urine, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Histopathological examination of vital organs showed normal architecture suggesting no morphological alterations. Moreover, the CL extracts improved lipid profile and exhibited a significant hypoglycemic effect in all doses tested in rats. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that treatment with the CL extract for 13 weeks does not appear to produce significant toxicity, except at high dose. Therefore, the use of appropriate levels of the CL extract as a traditional medicine remedies should have a wide margin of safety for its therapeutic use.

Screening of immunomodulatory activity of total and protein extracts of some Moroccan medicinal plants.

Herbal and traditional medicines are being widely used in practice in many countries for their benefits of treating different ailments. A large number of plants in Morocco were used in folk medicine to treat immune-related disorders. The objective of this study is to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of protein extracts (PEs) of 14 Moroccan medicinal plants. This activity was tested on the proliferation of immune cells. The prepared total and PEs of the plant samples were tested using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on the splenocytes with or without stimulation by concanavalin-A (Con-A), a mitogenic agent used as positive control. The results of this study indicated different activity spectra. Three groups of activities were observed. The first group represented by Citrullus colocynthis, Urtica dioica, Elettaria cardamomum, Capparis spinosa and Piper cubeba showed a significant immunosuppressive activity. The second group that showed a significant immunostimulatory activity was represented by Aristolochia longa, Datura stramonium, Marrubium vulgare, Sinapis nigra, Delphynium staphysagria, Lepidium sativum, Ammi visnaga and Tetraclinis articulata. The rest of the plant extracts did not alter the proliferation induced by Con-A. This result was more important for the PE than for the total extract. In conclusion, this study revealed an interesting immunomodulating action of certain PEs, which could explain their traditional use. The results of this study may also have implications in therapeutic treatment of infections, such as prophylactic and adjuvant with cancer chemotherapy.

[Primary pharmacological screening of an endemic plant from the Southern Morocco (Tetraena gaetula [Emb. & Maire] Beier & Thulin)]. / Criblage pharmacologique primaire d'une plante endémique originaire du Sud Marocain (Tetraena gaetula [Emb. & Maire] Beier & Thulin).

Tetraena gaetula (Emb. & Maire) Beier & Thulin (Zygophyllum gaetulum Emb. & Maire, Zygophyllaceae) is an endemic plant from the southern Morocco. This plant is widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine as an antispasmodic and antidiabetic. Our work aims to evaluate several pharmacological properties of extracts of T. gaetula such pro- or antiproliferative, immunomodulatory, analgesic and antidepressant effects. Initially, we studied intraperitoneally the acute toxicity of aqueous extract of T. gaetula in mice; the lethal dose 50 is 1.2 g/kg of body weight. Our results also showed a stimulating proliferative activity of T. gaetula, particularly at 6 µg/µL of the proteic extract on T lymphocytes. However, this same concentration of proteic extract induced rather cytotoxicity on B cells and macrophages. Our ex vivo results showed a dose-dependent response: (i) stimulation of lymphocyte subpopulations and monocytes in a dose 600 mg/kg, and (ii) immunosuppression at a dose 300 mg/kg. The pharmacological results in vivo showed a pronounced antidepressant effect of the proteic extract at all doses. However, the aqueous extract showed analgesic and anti-depressant effects, mainly at doses 300 and 600 mg/kg.