The immunomodulatory potential of Leonurus cardiaca extract in relation to endothelial cells and platelets
Beata Sadowska1, Bartłomiej Micota1, Marek Różalski2
11 Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Leonurus cardiaca extract (LCE) shows immunomodulatory potential by increasing nitric oxide (NO) and inhibiting platelet-activating factor (PAF) and platelet aggregation. This suggests LCE may help prevent inflammatory lesions.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
- Phytochemistry
Background:
- Inflammatory lesions are challenging to treat and often occur in chronically infected tissues.
- Leonurus cardiaca L. is a plant with potential therapeutic properties.
- Understanding the immunomodulatory activity of plant extracts is crucial for developing new treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunomodulatory activity of Leonurus cardiaca L. polyphenol-rich extract (LCE) in vitro.
- To assess LCE's effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and platelet aggregation.
- To explore LCE's potential therapeutic use in managing inflammatory conditions.
Main Methods:
- Phytochemical analysis of LCE to determine total polyphenol content and identify major compounds.
- In vitro assays to evaluate LCE's antioxidant capacity, cytotoxicity, and effects on NO and platelet-activating factor (PAF) secretion by HUVECs.
- Assessment of LCE's impact on platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid.
Main Results:
- LCE contains 137.0 ± 0.8 mg/g of total polyphenols, predominantly hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives.
- LCE demonstrated antioxidant capacity, though significantly lower than ascorbic acid.
- The extract was non-cytotoxic up to 4500 µg/ml and lacked proapoptotic activity.
- LCE significantly increased NO production in HUVECs and inhibited PAF secretion.
- LCE (100 µg/ml) significantly reduced platelet aggregation.
Conclusions:
- Leonurus cardiaca L. extract exhibits significant immunomodulatory effects in vitro.
- LCE demonstrates potential in modulating NO production, PAF secretion, and platelet aggregation.
- These findings suggest LCE may be beneficial in preventing the development of inflammatory lesions in chronically infected tissues.
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.
