Oral administration of Minthostachys verticillata essential oil activates CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mice

CAMPRA NA; MONTIRONI I; RAVIOLO J; GROSSO C; MAÑAS F; BELLINGERI R; CARIDDI LN

Congreso; Reunión de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2020

Minthostachys verticillata essential oil (EO) has demonstrated antimicrobial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of oral administration of M. verticillata EO in a murine model. Male Balb/c mice (n=9) were divided in three groups and administered orally by gavage once a day for 10 consecutive days as follows: Control group 100 µl of saline solution (ClNa 0.9%), Treatment 1 (T1) group 100 µl of EO (5 mg/kg/day) and Treatment 2 (T2) group 100 µl of EO (10 mg/kg/day). Body weight, fecal consistency and fecal occult blood were evaluated as important indicators of intestinal health. The blood parameters were evaluated trough total and differential leukocyte count in peripheral blood. At the end of the assay mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and spleens were collected for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells quantification by flow cytometry. An increase in the body weight gain was observed in T1 group compared to the control and T2 groups (p