Download PDF
Planta Med 1991; 57(4): 331-334
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960110
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Suppression of Mitogen-Induced Proliferation of Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes by Plant Lignans

Toshihiko Hirano1 , Akino Wakasugi1 , Motomu Oohara2 , Kitaro Oka1 , Yutaka Sashida2
  • 1Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Tokyo College of Pharmacy, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-03, Japan
  • 2Department of Medicinal Plants, Tokyo College of Pharmacy, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-03, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1990

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The effects of seven lignans and two neolignans derived from plants and herbs on the concanavalin A-induced proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro were studied. All compounds showed inhibitory activity with an IC50, ranging from 0.02 to 4.30 µg/ml (1.6 × 10-8 to 1.6 × 10-5M). Machilin A (2,3-dimethyl-1,4-dipiperonylbutane), a Lauraceae lignan, was the strongest inhibitor and was quite effective as the synthetic immunosuppressive glucocorticoid prednisolone. The viability of lymphocytes before and after treatment, as assessed by a dye exclusion test, indicated no change, and thus the lignans are not lymphocytotoxic but may inhibit DNA synthesis. The results suggest the value of further assessment of plant lignans as immunosuppressive agents.

Key words

Lignans - neolignans - immunosuppressive activity - proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes - Lauraceae - machilin A - DNA synthesis

      >