Pharmacological study on Naja naja kaouthia Lesson. III. Effects of 50% ethanolic extracts from liver and gall bladder on phagocytic activity of mouse reticuloendothelial system

Abstract

Effects of 50% ethanolic extracts from the liver and the gall bladder of Naja naja kaouthia Lesson (COB-L or COB-G) were studied on the phagocytic activity of a mouse reticuloendothelial system. The clearance-rate of carbon was shortened by the oral administration of COB-L or COB-G (50 or 200 mg/kg). COB-L or COB-G promoted the phagocytosis of latex by peritoneal macrophages (M phi). Furthermore, effects of these extracts on the peritoneal M phi were biochemically investigated using in vitro experimental models. The activities of two lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase, and that of lactate dehydrogenase in the peritoneal M phi were enhanced when the M phi were cultured with COB-L or COB-G (10-100 micrograms/ml) for 4 d. In addition, the consumption of glucose in the culture media by the M phi was also enhanced by culturing the media with COB-L or COB-G. When COB-L and COB-G were given orally immediately before and 16 h after the application of picryl chloride (PC) or sheep red blood cell (SRBC), these extracts at a dose of 200 mg/kg did not show any inhibitory effects on the swelling by picryl chloride-inducing contact dermatitis (PC-CD) and by sheep red blood cell delayed type hypersensitivity (SRBC-DTH) in mice. However, these extracts inhibited the immunosuppression with the SRBC 1 x 10(9) cells priming and with the frozen and dried ascites of Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice containing immunosupressive substances (EC-sup). These results suggest that COB-L or COB-G biochemically activates the mouse peritoneal M phi, and promotes the phagocytic activity of the M phi and the interaction between M phi and T cell.