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Planta Med 2000; 66(2): 134-137
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-11131
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Isolation and Chemical Analysis of a Fatty Acid Fraction of Kalanchoe pinnata with a Potent Lymphocyte Suppressive Activity

A. P. Almeida1 , S. A. G. Da Silva2 , M. L. M. Souza1 , L. M. T. R. Lima1 , B. Rossi-Bergmann2 , V. L. Gonçalves de Moraes3 , S. S. Costa1,*
  • 1 Núcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 2 Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 3 Departamento de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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Abstract

Previously we demonstrated that Kalanchoe pinnata (KP) leaf extracts inhibited in vitro lymphocyte proliferation and showed in vivo immunosuppressive activity. Here we attempt to identify the immunosuppressive substances present in KP guided by the lymphoproliferative assays. From the ethanolic extract was purified a fraction (KP12SA) twenty-fold more potent to block murine lymphocyte proliferation than the crude extract. Chemical analysis by 1H- and 13C-NMR, IR and GC-MS of KP12SA (methylated sample) showed 89.3 % of palmitic acid (C16), 10.7 % of stearic acid (C18) and traces of arachidic (C20) and behenic acids (C22). This study provides evidence that fatty acids present in Kalanchoe pinnata may be responsible, at least in part, for its immunosuppressive effect in vivo.

Key words

Kalanchoe pinnata - Crassulaceae - ethanolic extract - saturated fatty acid - lymphocyte proliferation

References

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Dr. S. S. Costa*

Núcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

21941-590, Rio de Janeiro

RJ, Brazil

Email: sscosta@nppn.ufrj.br