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Planta Med 2003; 69(7): 600-604
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41113
Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Immunomodulatory Activities of Flavonoids, Monoterpenoids, Triterpenoids, Iridoid Glycosides and Phenolic Compounds of Plantago Species

Lien-Chai Chiang1 , Lean Teik Ng2 , Wen Chiang3 , Mei-Yin Chang1 , Chun-Ching Lin4
  • 1Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 2Department of Food Science and Technology, Tajen Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 3Department of Clinical Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • 4Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 6, 2002

Accepted: March 12, 2003

Publication Date:
04 August 2003 (online)

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Abstract

A number of Plantago spp. especially P. major has long been used in the treatment of diseases such as infection, inflammation and cancer. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory activities of five chemical classes of pure compounds obtained from the Plantago genus on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Studies were conducted on lymphocyte transformation by BrdU immunoassay and secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) using an ELISA assay. Results showed that the water-soluble compounds, namely aucubin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid, enhanced the activity of human lymphocyte proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ. Among the water-insoluble compounds, with the exception of luteolin, both baicalein and baicalin showed an enhancement of the human PBMC. Although oleanolic acid and ursolic acid of the triterpenoids did not significantly affect the proliferation of PBMC, they exhibited a strong stimulation of IFN-γ secretion. Linalool, a monoterpenoid, showed a similar immunomodulatory activity as the triterpenoids. The present study concludes that the tested compounds, which possess immunostimulating activities, may contribute to the traditional claims of Plantago-based natural products used in treating cancers and infectious diseases.

Key words

Immunomodulatory activity - Plantago species - Plantagiaceae - flavonoids - monoterpenoids - triterpenoids - iridoid glycosides - phenolics

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Professor C. C. Lin

Graduate Institute of Natural Products

Kaohsiung Medical University

Kaohsiung 807

Taiwan

R.O.C.

Phone: +886-7-3121101 ext 2122

Fax: +886-7-3135215

Email: aalin@ms24.hinetnet