Effect of Salvia purpurea cav. on the Proliferation of Hematopoietic Cells In Vitro

Abstract

In Mexico, some plants of the Salvia genus are employed against digestive problems, circulatory problems, infections, and some hematological alterations. We evaluated the effect of Salvia purpurea Cav. (Labiateae) on the proliferation of mouse hematopoietic cells. The extracts were prepared by consecutive maceration with hexane, dichloromethane, methanol, and water from three mixtures of the aerial structures of the plant: flower; flower–leaf, and flower–leaf–stem. Their hematopoietic capacity was determined in cultures of mouse bone marrow and spleen utilizing concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL of each extract. The 100-µg/mL concentration of the flower extracts obtained with hexane, dichloromethane, and water established the proliferation of bone-marrow cells. The 10-µg/mL concentration of the hexanic and dichloromethanic extracts reduced cellularity by 34 ad 33%, respectively (p <0.005). Likewise, the 10-µg/mL concentration of the hexanic extract reduced the cell count by 30% (p <0.025). The 100-µg/mL concentration of the four flower–leaf extracts increased the concentration from 135–174%. Of the 36 extracts tested in bone marrow, 14 were stimulants, 19 were cytostatic, and three, cytotoxic. The remaining extracts increased the cellular concentration from 127 to 199.6%. In spleen cultures, the 100-µg/mL concentration of the flower–leaf–stem, and the hexanic and methanolic extracts increased the cellular concentration. The 100-µg/mL concentration of the flower–leaf extracts obtained with dichloromethane and water gave rise to 4.0 and 3.4 increments in the cell count, respectively. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of phenolic and saponin compounds. 
 Keywords: Hematopoietic activity, Genus Salvia, Salvia purpurea Cav, Bone marrow, Spleen.