Physalins B, F and G, seco-steroids purified from Physalis angulata L., inhibit lymphocyte function and allogeneic transplant rejection

Abstract

Physalis angulata is a solanaceae widely used in folk medicine in various tropical countries in the world. We have previously described that seco-steroids (physalins) purified from P. angulata are potent inhibitors of macrophage activation, blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and LPS-induced lethality. Herein we investigated the immunomodulatory activities of these substances in lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production and in transplantation. The addition of physalins B, F or G to concanavalin A-activated splenocyte cultures induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of proliferation. Physalin B also inhibited IL-2 production by Con A-activated spleen cells. The addition of 2 mug/ml physalin B to mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) caused a 100% inhibition of proliferation. More importantly, treatment of mice with physalin B, F or G prevented the rejection of allogeneic heterotopic heart transplant. Our results demonstrate the suppressive activity of physalins B, F and G in lymphocyte function and indicate the potential use of physalins as immunosuppressive agents for treatments of pathologies in which inhibition of immune responses is desired.

Preconditioning of Physalis angulata L. to maintain the viability of seeds

“…Many studies ascribe pharmacological properties to some of its chemical constituents. Among these are the immunomodulatory, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of extracts of P. angulata (Soares et al 2006;Lopes et al 2006).…”

Withanolides and Related Steroids

“…The effects of the above-mentioned physalins were not blocked by the antiglucocorticoid, RU-486, suggesting that they act by a mechanism different from that of the glucocorticoids. Physalins B, F, and G also have potent suppressive activities in vitro on splenocyte cultures and in vivo on allogeneic transplants (236). The effects of physalins on transplant rejection could be explained by a direct effect of these withanolides on lymphocytes.…”

Effect of osmopriming on germination and initial growth of Physalis angulata L. under salt stress and on expression of associated genes

“…Physalis angulata is widely used in ethnomedicine due to the presence of secsteroid (physalins) that are produced in stems and leaves (Bastos et al 2008). The anti-infl ammatory and immunomodulatory effects of the physalins B, D, F and G, have been well documented (Vieira et al 2005, Magalhães et al 2006, Soares et al 2006, Damu et al 2007, Guimarães et al 2009, Yu et al 2010. Despite its important chemical and food properties, research on growth and improvement of stress tolerance of P. angulata is lagging behind.…”