Immunomodulatory effect of Hibiscus cannabinus extract on macrophage functions

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 62 - 71
• Main Authors: Lee, Yong Gyu, Byeon, Se Eun, Kim, Joo Young, Lee, Ji Yeon, Rhee, Man Hee, Hong, Sungyoul, Wu, Jin Cheng, Lee, Han Shin, Kim, Myong Jo, Cho, Dong Ha, Cho, Jae Youl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15-08-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; anti-inflammatory activity; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; chemical constituents of plants; Down-Regulation; ethnobotany; gene expression; General pharmacology; Heme Oxygenase-1 - drug effects; Heme Oxygenase-1 - metabolism; herbal medicines; Hibiscus - chemistry; Hibiscus cannabinus; Humans; immunomodulators; Immunomodulatory effects; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Interleukin-12 - metabolism; interleukin-3; Interleukin-3 - metabolism; Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L; leaves; Macrophage functions; macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Malvaceae; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Medicine, Traditional; Mice; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - drug effects; Africa; India; Malvaceae; Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L; Immunomodulatory effects; Macrophage functions; Pharmacognosy; Kenaf; Extract; Fiber crop; Hibiscus cannabinus L.; Malvaceae; Immunomodulatory effects; Macrophage functions; Medicinal plant; Immunomodulator; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Hibiscus cannabinus; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.04.019

Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae) (known as Kenaf) has long been used as a folk medicine in India and Africa for the treatment of blood and throat disorders, bilious conditions, fever and puerperium. In this study, therefore, we aimed either to demonstrate its ethnopharmacological activity by examining its macrophage function-regulating effects or to expand its therapeutic efficacy into other macrophage-mediated diseases. The total crude extract (EtOH extract) of
Hibiscus cannabinus fresh leaves, prepared with 80% ethanol, significantly suppressed TNF-α production and the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-12 in the RAW264.7 cells, stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2.5
μg/ml). The secretion of inflammatory mediators (i.e., nitric oxide [NO], reactive oxygen species [ROS] and prostaglandin E
2 [PGE
2]) was diminished by the EtOH extract. The extract induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA, a potent cytoprotective molecule. The Kenaf extract suppressed both the phagocytic uptake and the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) of LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. It is interesting that Kenaf also down-regulated both the functional activation of β1-integrin (CD29) and the LPS-induced up-regulation of the surface CD29 level. Taken together, these data suggest that Kenaf may be able to modulate macrophage-mediated responses and that some of the activities may contribute to expand its therapeutic usage.