Immunomodulatory and Antibacterial Properties of the Chumash Medicinal Plant Trichostema lanatum

• Published in: Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 5; no. 2; p. 25
• Main Authors: Fleming, Matthew C, Hester, Victoria, Allison, Brittany J, Foster, Majie C, Nofziger, Donna, Joyner, P Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 21-03-2018; MDPI AG
• Subjects: antibacterial; immunomodulatory; macrophage; TNF-α; traditional medicines of North America; Trichostema lanatum; macrophage; antibacterial; TNF-α; traditional medicines of North America; Trichostema lanatum; immunomodulatory
• ISSN: 2305-6320; 2305-6320
• DOI: 10.3390/medicines5020025

The woody shrub
Benth. (Lamiaceae) is native to Southern California and was reportedly used by the Chumash people as a disinfectant and for the treatment of rheumatism. Based on its traditional uses, this study investigated the antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties of extracts from
A methanolic extract of the leaves and stems of
was tested for immunomodulatory activity by measuring the proliferation of murine macrophage cell cultures and the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α by the cells after treatment with
. Antibacterial activity of the extract against a panel of six Gram-positive bacteria and two Gram-negative bacteria was evaluated using a disc-diffusion assay.
The
extract inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative bacteria. Treatment of activated macrophage cell cultures with
extract resulted in decreased proliferation of the activated macrophages and a decrease in the production of TNF-α.
These results provide the first pharmacological support for the traditional use of
by the Chumash people of Southern California as a disinfectant and treatment for rheumatism.