Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic potential of aqueous leaves extract of Thlaspi arvense

Abstract

Medicinal plants are traditionally used in Asian countries for treatment of various intracellular as well as extracellular infections. The present study was undertaken to investigate Thlaspi arvense for determining its immunosuppressive potential and cytotoxic activity in infected lysed human whole blood samples. For these studies, virally infected human whole blood samples (n = 5; symptoms such as sneezing, cough etc.) were collected and analysing its cytotoxicity of variable doses of aqueous leaves extract of Thlaspi arvense in the form of proliferation using Concanavalin (Con A; 2.5 µg/ml). In addition, immunosuppressive activity was also determined using lysed human whole blood samples were incubated with variable doses of aqueous extract in presence or absence of incomplete freunds adjuvant (IFA) pertaining to determine the total cellular (protein) content. In contrast, in vitro studies of aqueous extract of Thlaspi arvense were also determined using lactoferrin (100 µg/well) and ovalbumin (OVA, 100 µg/well) as coating antigen pertaining to antibody production using Elisa. The results showed that aqueous leaves extract of Thlaspi arvense showed markedly decline in Con A proliferation at higher doses. In addition, this aqueous extract also showed decline in total cellular content in presence or absence of IFA but it showed enhancement in antibody production in vitro against lactoferrin and OVA at higher doses. Overall the data showed that aqueous leaves extract of Thlaspi arvense displayed immunosuppressive and cytotoxic effect in virally infected human whole blood samples.