Immunomodulatory Effects of Cadmium and Gynostemma pentaphyllum Herbal Tea on Rat Splenocyte Proliferation

Abstract

Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino (GP) is a herbal tea widely grown in Southeast Asia. However, this herbal tea can be contaminated with some heavy metals, especially cadmium (Cd), from agricultural areas, which may affect human health. The objective of this study is to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Cd contaminated in GP herbal tea and inorganic Cd on rat splenocytes. Rats were divided into groups and treated with drinking water (control), high CdCl 2 in drinking water (HCd; 0.05 mg/L), GP herbal tea containing 0.05 mg/L Cd (GP-HCd) for 4 months, low CdCl 2 in drinking water (LCd; 0.006 mg/L), and GP herbal tea containing 0.006 mg/L Cd (GP-LCd) for 6 months. After the treatments, Cd accumulation in organs and blood was detected by using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In spleen, HCd-treated rats had 4-fold higher Cd accumulations than GP-HCd-treated rats. Cd accumulation in liver and kidney in the HCd group also increased significantly. There were no significant changes in total leucocyte and lymphocyte counts; however, these parameters tended to decrease slightly in LCd, GP-LCd, and GP-HCd groups. The HCd group (ex vivo) significantly produced suppressive effects on T cell mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, with 1 mug/mL Con A and PHA-P. In addition, 0.5 mug/mL PWM-induced B cell proliferation, through T cell functions, was also significantly inhibited by HCd as compared to the control group, while GP-HCd had no effects. However, both GP-LCd- and LCd-treated rats had a slight increase in Con A-stimulated splenocyte proliferation. This study indicated that high Cd contamination in drinking water alone had suppressive effects on T cell functions, but these effects could not be found with the same Cd level contamination in GP herbal tea.

Protective effect of Dammarane Sapogenins against chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in mice

“…36,37 T-and B-lymphocyte immunity can be detected by Con A-and LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay, respectively. 38,39 Our results indicated that DS significantly augmented Con A-stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation on day 3 and enhanced LPS-stimulated B-lymphocyte proliferation on day 7. T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytes mediate humoral immunity 40 and their proliferation reflects the functional status of immunocytes.…”

Protective effect of Dammarane Sapogenins against chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in mice

“…36,37 T-and B-lymphocyte immunity can be detected by Con A-and LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay, respectively. 38,39 Our results indicated that DS significantly augmented Con A-stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation on day 3 and enhanced LPS-stimulated B-lymphocyte proliferation on day 7. T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytes mediate humoral immunity 40 and their proliferation reflects the functional status of immunocytes.…”

Protective Effect of Saponins-Enriched Fraction of <i>Gynostemma pentaphyllum</i> against High Choline-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Hepatic Damage in Mice

“…Recently, naturally occurring saponins from G. pentaphyllum herb have been found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of metabolic and vascular diseases. 13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on.…”

“…13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on. [35][36][37] Gypenoside LVI attenuated the ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation mainly by promoting cholesterol efflux and inhibiting inflammatory response, and the protective effect of Gypenoside XLIX against cardiovascular disease was involved in the inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression.…”

Further New Gypenosides from Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)

“…For this reason, the plant was included in the list of health products, approved by the Chinese government. 5 Previously reported phytochemical investigations indicated the presence of dammarane glycosides and flavonoid glycosides as the major chemical constituents in this plant. 6 The dammarane glycosides, also named as gypenosides, are the bioactive saponins, which are structurally similar to ginsenosides, the bioactive principles of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae).…”

Protective effect of Dammarane Sapogenins against chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in mice

“…36,37 T-and B-lymphocyte immunity can be detected by Con A-and LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay, respectively. 38,39 Our results indicated that DS significantly augmented Con A-stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation on day 3 and enhanced LPS-stimulated B-lymphocyte proliferation on day 7. T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytes mediate humoral immunity 40 and their proliferation reflects the functional status of immunocytes.…”

Protective Effect of Saponins-Enriched Fraction of <i>Gynostemma pentaphyllum</i> against High Choline-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Hepatic Damage in Mice

“…Recently, naturally occurring saponins from G. pentaphyllum herb have been found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of metabolic and vascular diseases. 13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on.…”

“…13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on. [35][36][37] Gypenoside LVI attenuated the ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation mainly by promoting cholesterol efflux and inhibiting inflammatory response, and the protective effect of Gypenoside XLIX against cardiovascular disease was involved in the inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression.…”

Further New Gypenosides from Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)

“…For this reason, the plant was included in the list of health products, approved by the Chinese government. 5 Previously reported phytochemical investigations indicated the presence of dammarane glycosides and flavonoid glycosides as the major chemical constituents in this plant. 6 The dammarane glycosides, also named as gypenosides, are the bioactive saponins, which are structurally similar to ginsenosides, the bioactive principles of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae).…”

Protective effect of Dammarane Sapogenins against chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in mice

“…36,37 T-and B-lymphocyte immunity can be detected by Con A-and LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay, respectively. 38,39 Our results indicated that DS significantly augmented Con A-stimulated T-lymphocyte proliferation on day 3 and enhanced LPS-stimulated B-lymphocyte proliferation on day 7. T-lymphocytes are responsible for cell-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytes mediate humoral immunity 40 and their proliferation reflects the functional status of immunocytes.…”

Protective Effect of Saponins-Enriched Fraction of <i>Gynostemma pentaphyllum</i> against High Choline-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Hepatic Damage in Mice

“…Recently, naturally occurring saponins from G. pentaphyllum herb have been found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of metabolic and vascular diseases. 13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on.…”

“…13,17,19,22) The cheaper G. pentaphyllum is generally named as "the second ginseng" because its bioactive components are similar to chemical composition of ginseng roots which have potentially value in treating cardiovascular diseases. 13,20) The active compounds of G. pentaphyllum saponins for protecting CVD have been reported to be Gypenoside LVI, Gypenoside XVII, Gypenoside XLIX and so on. [35][36][37] Gypenoside LVI attenuated the ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation mainly by promoting cholesterol efflux and inhibiting inflammatory response, and the protective effect of Gypenoside XLIX against cardiovascular disease was involved in the inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression.…”

Further New Gypenosides from Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)

“…For this reason, the plant was included in the list of health products, approved by the Chinese government. 5 Previously reported phytochemical investigations indicated the presence of dammarane glycosides and flavonoid glycosides as the major chemical constituents in this plant. 6 The dammarane glycosides, also named as gypenosides, are the bioactive saponins, which are structurally similar to ginsenosides, the bioactive principles of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae).…”