Effectivity of polyphenolic polysaccharide-proteins isolated from medicinal plants as potential cellular immune response modulators

Abstract

Traditional medicinal herbs as Echinacea purpurea and Erigeron canadensis are recommended as a complementary supplementation for the treatment of diseases associated with immunological inflammation (e.g. common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, immunodeficiencies). This pathologic conditions are accompanied by the wide range of malfunctions or imbalances of the immune system, thus there is increased necessity for search of novel immunomodulation trends and immunopharmacologically active phytosubstances for effective pharmaco-immunomodulatory therapy. Anti-inflammatory immunobiological activity of polyphenolic polysaccharide-proteins of Echinacea purpurea and Erigeron canadensis are still not studied. Our results demonstrated the immunobiological effectivity of selected herbal polyphenolic polysaccharide-proteins isolated from flowers of medicinal plants Echinacea purpurea and Erigeron canadensis resulting into the significant immunostimulation of inflammatory TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and IL-12 cytokines ( p < 0.001). Both herbal polyphenolic polysaccharide-proteins triggered cell release of anti-inflammatory interleukin IL-10 ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, the inductive cell release of growth factors M-CSF and GM-CSF has been demonstrated ( p < 0.001). E. purpurea and E. canadensis polyphenolic polysaccharide-proteins accelerated the efficacy of cellular phagocytosis and free radical release, more pronounced with Erigeron treatment.

A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study on immune improvement effects of ethanolic extract of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench in Korean adults

“…Purified polysaccharide extracts from Echinacea enhanced macrophage chemotaxis, production of reactive oxygen intermediates, and inhibited fungal growth in vivo (Roesler et al, 1991). Additionally, they enhanced the production and secretion of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-1β (Paulovičová et al, 2022;Roesler et al, 1991;Steinmüller et al, 1993). Flavonoids are well-known antioxidants found in Echinacea and are expected to have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties (Farhan et al, 2023).…”

Echinacea purpurea: An overview of mechanism, efficacy, and safety in pediatric upper respiratory infections and otitis media

“…Additionally, E. purpurea enhances immune function by increasing the quantity, functionality, and mobility of various immune cells, such as neutrophils, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells, thereby augmenting innate immunity and exerting anti-inflammatory effects (Khattab et al, 2019;Paulovičová et al, 2022). For instance, E. purpurea root extract was found to enhance the immune system by reducing the frequency and function of regulatory T cells (Kim et al, 2012).…”

Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Common Cold and Viral Respiratory Infections

“…The E. purpurea has been recommended as a medicinal plant for the treatment of the common cold, cough, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections [ 53 ]. In vitro experiments with human macrophages found that fresh-pressed juice and dried juice from the aerial parts of E. purpurea stimulated the production of cytokines including IL-1, IL-10, and TNF-α [ 54 ].…”