Abstract

Immunomodulatory activities of aqueous and protein extracts of Berberis hispanica were evaluated in vitro. Both extracts at 1 mg/ml showed no cytotoxicity effect on thymocytes, splenocytes and macrophages cells. These extracts strongly inhibited in vitro the mitogen proliferative response of thymocyte and spleen cells. Humoral immunity measured by plaque-forming cell assay and evolution of complement activity showed an increase of plaque-forming cell formed and complement activity after addition of protein extract, where aqueous extract induced a significant diminution only in plaque-forming cell. In addition, the same extracts elicited a significant decrease in phagocytic capacity without affecting macrophage cells viability. In the allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction test, plant extracts mainly increased lymphocyte cytotoxic activity towards chicken red bloods cells.  The present data support that Berberis hispanica extracts showed an immunosuppressive action on proliferation and biological effects of T-cell and B-cell. This suggests a possible use of aqueous extract in auto-immune diseases therapy. However, the protein extract, highly stimulates allogenic mixed lymphocyte which suggest an interesting use in cancer therapy.

Key words: Berberis hispanica, immunomodulation, plaque-forming cell, allogenic mixed lymphocyte phagocytosis.