Proceedings Volume 2010 (format .pdf) - SimpBTH

ANTIOXIDANT BIOPRODUCT WITHIMMUNOMODULATORY POTENTIALCORNELIA NICHITA 1 , GEORGETA NEAGU-CARAENE 1 , VIRGINIAVULTURESCU 1 , ELEONORA CODOREAN 2 , LUCIAN ALBULESCU 2 , RADUALBULESCU 11 National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania , e-mail:cornelianichita@yahoo.com2 National Institute of Research and Development in the Field of Pathology and Biomedical Sciences “VictorBabes”, Bucharest, RomaniaABSTRACTModulation of cytokine secretion may offer novel approaches in the treatment of a variety ofdiseases. One strategy in the modulation of cytokine expression may be through the use of herbalmedicines.We analyzed the effects of a selective extract obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis L. which exhibitstrong antioxidant activity, on the production of interleukins including IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10and TNF-α, in peripheral blood culture.The results showed increased expression IL-10 (anti-inflammatory interleukin) and inhibition ofproinflammatory interleukins production after treatment with the selective extractThis findings suggest that Rosmarinus officinalis and its compounds could be used to reduceinflammatory reactions in certain inflammatory diseases.Key-words: Rosmarinus officinalis, immunomodulatory, cytokineINTRODUCTIONCytokines are the main regulators of the immune response. They induce thebalance between inflammatory versus regulatory or antibody mediated reactions.For instance, Th1 cytokines such as IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)plus TNF-α from monocytes/macrophages, stimulate the function of T cytotoxiccells, natural killer (NK) lymphocytes,and activated macrophages. TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 are considered proinflammatory cytokines because they stimulate thesynthesis of nitric oxide and acute phase proteins, attract inflammatory cells, andupregulate the synthesis of secondary mediators and proinflammatory cytokines.On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, derived from Th2lymphocytes and monocytes, promotes humoral immunity and suppressesmonocyte/macrophage and Th1 lymphocyte activation by inhibiting IL-12, TNF-aand IFN-c production [1,2]. Modulating the release of cytokines or inducing themby immunomodulating agents is an attractive mode for treating or help in treatingseveral diseases such as infection, allergy, autoimmune mediated diseases andcancer [3,4].For instance, patients with viral infections or cancer may be in need of increasing orinducing Th1 or proinflammatory cytokines, which ultimately activate T cytotoxic,NK cells and macrophages to kill virally infected cells and tumor cells, and the239