A Fraction Containing Kaempferol-3,4′- dimethylether from Larrea divaricata Cav. Induces Macrophage Activation on Mice Infected with Candida albicans

RENZO MARTINO; FERNANDO CANALE; VALERIA SÜLSEN; ROSARIO ALONSO; ROBERTO DAVICINO; MARIA AIDA MATTAR; CLAUDIA ANESINI; BLAS MICALIZZI

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: LOndres; Año: 2014 vol. 28 p. 917 - 924

0951-418X

Larrea divaricata Cav. is a plant growing in South America. Both, the infusion and a derived fraction (F1) have proved to have immunomodulatory properties. Moreover, F1 can activate macrophages obtained from Candida albicans infected mice. In this work, F1 was administrated to infected animals and the state and type of activation of resident macrophages were studied. Results showed that F1 was able to activate macrophages obtained from infected mice by both the classical and alternative pathways, probably by inducing a translocation of NF-kB. Not only did F1 increase the lysosomal activity of macrophages, but also the production of phagosomal superoxide anion as a consequence of the activation of the NADPH oxidase complex. F1 induced an increase in the macrophage capacity to kill the fungus, which was reflected in a decrease in the levels of colonization of organs. A main flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4´-dimethylether, was identified in F1 by HPLC. This compound increased in vitro production of nitric oxide in heat killed- C. albicans stimulated macrophages. The flavonoid could thus be considered one of the responsible molecules mediating the overall effects of F1 on the immune system in infected animals.