Efeito do extrato aquoso da casca do caule da Bowdichia virgilioides KUNTH na resposta celular e humoral em camundongos

Abstract

Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth, popularly known as "sucupira preta", is used in folk regional medicine to combat inflammation, autoimmune diseases and healing. There are only few scientific studies dealing with its biological activity, especially in regards to the immune system, making it a potential target of scientific research. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the action of the aqueous extract of Bowdichia virgilioides-derived stem bark (EaBv) in cellular and humoral responses. Swiss male mices were used (4-6 weeks), which were administered EaBv orally for 7 consecutive days. Initially using the template of zymosan A showed that treatment with EaBv increased phagocytic capacity of resident peritoneal macrophages. On the peripheral blood leukocytes count, it was observed a decrease in the number of total leukocytes in animals treated with EaBv and this reduction was observed when the differential number of neutrophils counts was performed. However, the increased number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of animals after treatment. It has been found by the hemagglutination assay EaBv was able to decrease the production of antibodies. The extract stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes which have been obtained from lymph nodes after 7 days of treatment. Also, interfered with the effect of ConA on T lymphocyte proliferation and acted negatively on the action of LPS on the proliferation of B lymphocytes. Furthermore, flow cytometric, it was observed that the EaBv increased expression of TNF-α by T lymphocytes and IL-10 by B lymphocytes. However, expression of TNF-α by B lymphocytes has been modulated negatively by the extract. Together, these results suggest that aqueous extract of Bowdichia virgilioides-derived stem bark possesses a complexe immune activity, acting on the cellular and humoral immune responses.