Paula Viñas
José de Felippe Junior

Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa)

A Chlorella é uma alga unicelular encontrada espontâneamente em tanques e lagos, com grande habilidade em realizar a fotossíntese. (Teske, M., et al., 1995)

Pode ser utilizada como suplemento alimentar principalmente como preventivo de anemias em gravidez.

Também é utilizado em dietas de emagrecimento promovendo sensação de saciedade

Possui uma substância chamada CGF (Chlorella Growth Factor) composta por um nucleopeptídeo sulfurado, um polissacarídeo e outras substâncias que ativam as funções fisiológicas e estimulam o sistema imune. (Teske, M., et al., 1995)

Dente de Leão (Taraxacum officinale)

Há evidências científicas que a Taraxacum officinale restabelece a função imune suprimida em animais aumentando a resposta imune mediada, humoral, e imunidade não específica. Comprovações experimentais sugerem também que a Taraxacum officinale leva a produção de óxido nítrico, que é uma substância importante para a regulação sistêmica e defesa imune. Além disso, o extrato aquoso de Taraxacum officinale abole o efeito inibitório do cádmio na defesa imune e regulação sistêmica, restabelecendo a produção de ácido nítrico por macrófagos da cavidade peritoneal dos ratos. (Carvalho,J.C.T., 2004)

Referências bibliográficas:

Teske , M; Trentini, M M A. Herbarium Compêndio de Fitoterapia. 2º ed. Curitiba: Herbarium, 1995. 107-109p.

Carvalho ,J.C.T. Fitoterápicos Antiinflamatórios: Aspectos Químicos, Farmacológicos e Aplicações Terapêuticas. Ribeirão Preto, SP: Tecmedd, 2004. 286p

Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening.

Atal CK; Sharma ML; Kaul A; Khajuria A

J Ethnopharmacol;18(2):133-41, 1986 Nov.

País de publicação: SWITZERLAND

The immunobiological activity was investigated of certain medicinal plants widely used in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for treatment of chronic infections and immunological disorders. The effect of an ethanolic extract of each drug was studied on delayed type hypersensitivity, humoral responses to sheep red blood cells, skin allograft rejection, and phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. Picrorhiza kurroa was found to be a potent immunostimulant, stimulating both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Tylophora indica, Aconitum heterophyllum and Holarrhena antidysenterica appeared to stimulate phagocytic function while inhibiting the humoral component of the immune system. Tinospora cordifolia and Ocimum gratissimum appeared to improve the phagocytic function without affecting the humoral or cell-mediated immune system. Hemidesmus indicus suppressed both the cell-mediated and humoral components of the immune system.

Immune system and antioxidants, especially those derived from Indian medicinal plants.

Indian J Exp Biol;40(6):639-55, 2002 Jun.

País de publicação: India

Resumo: During the functioning of the immune system, such as in phagocytosis, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are generated. If they are left unchecked they can affect the components of the immune system by inducing oxidative damage. This is more so in the elderly or during inflammation where there is excess generation of these reactive species than can be taken care of by the defenses in the form of antioxidants. Dietary supplementation with antioxidants may greatly help in such conditions. There are some indications of possible benefits of antioxidant supplementation. Natural compounds from medicinal plants having antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities have potential as therapeutic agents in this regard. Indian medicinal plants with these activities have been identified and their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects reviewed. The possible future prospects in this regard are also outlined.

Silimarina

Immunostimulatory effect of Silybum Marianum (milk thistle) extract.

Med Sci Monit;8(11):BR439-43, 2002 Nov.

País de publicação: Poland

Resumo: BACKGROUND: Herbal products are increasingly used for their effects on the immune system. Milk Thistle, a commonly used herbal product is known to inhibit growth of certain tumors, although the mechanism of this effect remains unknown. Previously we have shown that Milk Thistle extracts stimulate neurons in culture. Since other drugs that affect the neuronal; system also affect the immune system, we investigated the effects of Milk Thistle on the immune system. MATERIAL/METHODS: Standardized Milk Thistle extract was studied in murine lymphocyte proliferation tests using Concanavalin A (ConA) as mitogen for non-specific stimulation and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) as allospecific stimulation. Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels in MLC were assayed by two antibody capture ELISA technique. All tests were performed in triplicate and repeated twice. RESULTS: We found that Milk Thistle is immunostimulatory in vitro. It increased lymphocyte proliferation in both mitogen and MLC assays. These effects of Milk Thistle were associated with an increase in interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 cytokines in the MLC (table). This immunostimulatory effect increased in response to increasing doses of Milk Thistle. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has uncovered a novel effect of milk thistle on the immune system. This immunostimulatory effect may be of benefit in increasing the immunity to infectious diseases.

Modulation of the cellular and humoral immune responses of tumor patients by mistletoe therapy.

Eur J Med Res;3(4):194-202, 1998 Apr 8. Stein G; Henn W; von Laue H; Berg P

Resumo: There is evidence from recent data that mistletoe extracts exert immunostimulatory properties which could explain their therapeutic effects observed in some tumor patients. Aim of our study was, therefore, to investigate the effect of a subcutaneous 16-weeks therapy with a mistletoe extract (ABNOBAviscum Mali, AM) on the cellular and humoral immune responses in eight breast cancer patients. Mistletoe therapy induced a strong initial proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in all individuals, which, however, decreased in six patients during the observation period, indicating that not only activating but also inhibitory mechanisms have been induced. In all supernatants of AM-stimulated cell cultures TNF-alpha or IL-6 were found, indicating the activation of cells of the monocyte-/macrophage lineage by mistletoe extracts. Further analyses revealed, that AM induced in vitro also the release of low amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4 with individual variations. At the end of the therapy, a shift to Th1- related cytokines could be observed in the in vitro cell culture system. All patients produced anti-mistletoe lectin 1 antibodies of the IgG-type during therapy and in four of them additionally antibodies of the IgE-type were found. It, therefore, seems that AM can influence the Th1/Th2 balance and, in case of a Th1 shift, this may favourably influence the tumor growth.

Mistletoe therapy and immunological research.

Anticancer Drugs;8 Suppl 1:S65, 1997 Apr. Büssing A

Department of Applied Immunology, Communal Hospital Herdecke, Germany.

Eleutherococcus senticosus

The synthesis of Rantes, G-CSF, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-13 in human whole-blood cultures is modulated by an extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus L. roots.

Phytother Res;15(3):268-70, 2001 May.

Resumo: An ethanol extract derived from the roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus was found to influence markedly the cytokine synthesis of activated whole blood cultures of ten healthy volunteers. Whereas the synthesis of Rantes was increased over a wide range of concentrations, the release of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-12 was significantly inhibited. An inhibition at higher concentrations, switching to a stimulation at lower doses of the extract was seen with G-CSF, IL-6 and IL-13. From these particular immuno-pharmacological effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus we suggest this herbal preparation possesses immuno-modulatory potency, rather than just being immuno-suppressive or -stimulating.

Uncaria tomentosa

Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa.

J Ethnopharmacol;69(2):115-26, 2000 Feb. Sheng Y; Bryngelsson C; Pero RW

País : IRELAND

Resumo: Female W/Fu rats were gavaged daily with a water-soluble extract (C-MED-100) of Uncaria tomentosa supplied commercially by CampaMed at the doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg for 8 consecutive weeks. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was significantly increased in splenocytes of rats treated at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg. White blood cells (WBC) from the C-MED-100 treatment groups of 40 and 80 mg/kg for 8 weeks or 160 mg/kg for 4 weeks were significantly elevated compared with controls (P < 0.05). In a human volunteer study, C-MED-100 was given daily at 5 mg/kg for 6 consecutive weeks to four healthy adult males. No toxicity was observed and again, WBC were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) after supplement. Repair of DNA single strand breaks (SSB) and double strand breaks (DSB) 3 h after 12 Gy whole body irradiation of rats were also significantly improved in C-MED-100 treated animals (P < 0.05). The LD50 and MTD of a single oral dose of C-MED-100 in the rat were observed to be greater than 8 g/kg. Although the rats were treated daily with U. tomentosa extracts at the doses of 10-80 mg/kg for 8 weeks or 160 mg/kg for 4 weeks, no acute or chronic toxicity signs were observed symptomatically. In addition, no body weight, food consumption, organ weight and kidney, liver, spleen, and heart pathological changes were found to be associated with C-MED-100 treatment.