Phagocytic activity of plant extracts used in popular medicine in Argentina.

DAVICINO, ROBERTO; CASALI, YOLANDA; DI GENARO, SILVIA; MATTAR, AIDA; MICALIZZI, BLAS

Mendoza

Congreso; XX Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2002

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

The available information on the immunostimulatory activity of plants used in popular medicine in Argentina is scarce. The aim of this work was to apply bioassays to evaluate the effect upon the phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages of aqueous extract of: jarilla (Larrea divaricata), palo azul (Cyclolepsis genistoides), poleo (Lippia turbinata), aguaribay (Schinus areira) and carqueja (Baccharis trimera). The leaves were colected and identified by the Botany team of the UNSL. For the preparation of extract, the leaves were dryed and kept at 4ºC for 24 h to 5% (w/v). Rockland mice were employed. Macrophages from peritoneal fluid were resuspended in DMEM at 1x106 cél/ ml. They were incubated for 2 h at 37 ºC and 5% CO2. Adherent cells were treated with 1 ml of extract. The phagocytosis test was carried by using opsonized zimosan and nitro blue of tetrazolium. Only jarilla and aguaribay extracts showed increase of phagocytosis. The knowledge of the immunostimulatory effects of plants used in popular medicine will permit us to use them on a more rational and scientific basis.