Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas ISSN: 0717-7917 [email protected] Universidad de Santiago de Chile Chile CARIDDI, Laura; MOSER, Marina; ANDRADA, Melisa; DEMO, Mirta; ZYGADLO, Julio; SABINI, Liliana; MALDONADO, Ana The effect of Minthostachys verticillata essential oil on the immune response of patients allergic to dust mites Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas, vol. 8, núm. 3, mayo, 2009, pp. 224-233 Universidad de Santiago de Chile Santiago, Chile Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=85611774010 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative © 2009 The Authors © 2009 Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas, 8 (3), 224 - 233 BLACPMA ISSN 0717 7917 Artículo Original | Original Article The effect of Minthostachys verticillata essential oil on the immune response of patients allergic to dust mites [Efecto del aceite esencial de Minthostachys verticillata sobre la respuesta inmune de pacientes alérgicos a ácaros del polvo] Laura CARIDDI1,*, Marina MOSER1, Melisa ANDRADA1, Mirta DEMO1, Julio ZYGADLO2, Liliana SABINI1, Ana MALDONADO1 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina 2Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. Abstract The essential oil from leaves of Minthostachys verticillata was obtained by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from allergic patients were stimulated with essential oil. By application of MTT or 3,(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetric test the proliferation was assayed. In lymphocyte cultures CD4+, CD8+ and B cells were quantified, and in supernatants, IFN-γ and IL- 13. The liberation of β-hexosaminidase enzyme was determined for basophils with essential oil added and challenged with allergen and its effects were compared with those of anti-allergic drugs. The main constituents identified were pulegone, menthone and limonene. Essential oil increased absolute values of CD4+, CD8+ and B cells (p<0.002), stimulated IFN-γ synthesis and reduced IL-13 levels. Essential oil diminished β-hexosaminidase liberation by basophils (p<0.0001), with effects majors to those of the drugs tested. Essential oil stimulated the Th1 deviation and reduced β-hexosaminidase enzyme liberation by basophils from allergic patients. Keywords: Minthostachys verticillata; Essential oil; Immunomodulator; Basophil degranulation; β-hexosaminidase. Resumen El aceite esencial de hojas de M. verticillata fue obtenido por destilación en corriente de vapor y analizado por cromatografía gaseosa. Células mononucleares de sangre periférica de pacientes alérgicos, fueron estimuladas con aceite esencial. La proliferación fue ensayada mediante método colorimétrico del MTT o 3,(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. Se cuantificaron células CD4+, CD8+ y B en cultivos de linfocitos y en sobrenadantes, IFN-γ e IL-13. Se determinó la liberación de la enzima β-hexosaminidasa de basófilos adicionados de aceite esencial, y desafiados con el alergeno. Los efectos del aceite esencial fueron comparados con los de drogas antialérgicas. Los principales constituyentes identificados fueron pulegona, mentona y limoneno. Aceite esencial incrementó los valores de células CD4+, CD8+ y B (p<0.002), estimuló la síntesis de IFN-γ y redujo los niveles de IL-13. El aceite esencial disminuyó la liberación de β-hexosaminidasa de basófilos (p<0.0001) con mayores efectos que los de las drogas ensayadas. Aceite esencial estimuló la desviación Th1 y redujo la liberación de la enzima β-hexosaminidasa de basófilos de pacientes alérgicos. Palabras Clave: Minthostachys verticillata; Aceite esencial; Inmunomodulador; Desgranulación de basófilos; β-hexosaminidasa. Recibido | Received: March 19, 2009. Aceptado en Versión Corregida | Accepted in Corrected Version: May 18, 2009. Publicado en Línea | Published Online: May 25, 2009 Declaración de Intereses | Declaration of interests: authors have no competing interests. Financiación | Funding: This work was supported by grants from PICTOR 8/20325 BID 1728/OC-AR, Agencia Córdoba Ciencia-Nación, Resolution #222, years 2007/09, and SeCyT, Resolution #425, years 2007/09, from Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto and CONICET. This article must be cited as: Laura Cariddi, Marina Moser, Melisa Andrada, Mirta Demo, Julio Zygadlo, Liliana Sabini, Ana Maldonado. 2009. The effect of Minthostachys verticillata essential oil on the immune response of patients allergic to dust mites. Bol Latinoam Caribe Plant Med Aromat 8(3):224– 233. {EPub May 25, 2009}. *Contactos | Contacts: E-mail: [email protected]; Tel.: 54-0358-4676433; Fax: 54-0358-4676231. BLACPMA es una publicación de la Cooperación Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas This is an open access article distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported Licence. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ ) which permits to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original work is properly cited. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. Nothing in this license impairs or restricts the author's moral rights. Este es un articulo de Acceso Libre bajo los terminos de una licencia “Creative Commons Atribucion-No Comercial-No trabajos derivados 3.0 Internacional” (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc- nd/3.0/deed.es) Usted es libre de copiar, distribuir y comunicar públicamente la obra bajo las condiciones siguientes: Reconocimiento. Debe reconocer los créditos de la obra de la manera especificada por el autor o el licenciador (pero no de una manera que sugiera que tiene su apoyo o apoyan el uso que hace de su obra). No comercial. No puede utilizar esta obra para fines comerciales. Sin obras derivadas. No se puede alterar, transformar o generar una obra derivada a partir de esta obra. Al reutilizar o distribuir la obra, tiene que dejar bien claro los términos de la licencia de esta obra. Alguna de estas condiciones puede no aplicarse si se obtiene el permiso del titular de los derechos de autor Nada en esta licencia menoscaba o restringe los derechos morales del autor. Cariddi et al. Immunomodulatory effects of Minthostachys verticillata essential oil an in vitro study carried out on patients allergic to INTRODUCTION environmental fungi, essential oil, in concentrations of Allergic pathologies occur at an incidence of up to mg/mL, revealed mitogenic properties similar to those of PWM on human lymphocytes (Cariddi et al., 2005), 30% in the population. Allergic patients are generally + treated with corticoids and/or antihistamines, which were able to stimulate CD8 T cells, increased levels of IFN-γ and demonstrated anti-allergic properties constitute the anti-inflammatory therapies of choice because they block many inflammatory routes that are majors to those of dexamethasone and theophylline abnormally activated in this type of pathology (Barnes, (Cariddi et al., 2006). 2001). Nevertheless, these methods are not always The purpose of this investigation was to determine effective and can produce several adverse effects. if the essential oil from M. verticillata, at concentra- Corticoids suppress both the innate inflammatory tions smaller than previously evaluated, can modulate response and cellular immunity, inhibiting synthesis of the Th1/Th2 response in allergic patients with history IL-1, on behalf of macrophages, and of IL-2, on behalf of allergies and asthma, and to verify if it maintains its of T cells. A correlation has also been discovered inhibiting properties on basophil degranulation in between their anti-lymphoproliferative effects and these patients, comparing its effects with those of capacity to produce apoptosis in lymphocyte conventional anti-allergic drugs. populations (Winiski et al., 2007). MATERIALS AND METHODS Antihistamines can produce diverse adverse effects such as anemia or reduced platelets, reduced white Plant samples cells and bone marrow failure (Leonardi et al., 2007). In addition, some allergic patients display no Green leaves and thin stems of Minthostachys response to treatment with these drugs, which, in verticillata (Griseb.) Epling (Labiatae) were collected, conjunction with the fact that this resistance has also during morning hours, from the city Santa Rosa in the been observed in other inflammatory diseases (Barnes, Córdoba province, Argentina, in April 2004. The plant 2001), justifies the search for new immunomodulators. was identified by Dr. Margarita Grosso, professor in A quarter of the drugs used in industrialized countries the Area of Botany of the Universidad Nacional de Río are obtained from the Plant Kingdom. Current Cuarto, and a voucher specimen was stored in the investigations aim to find plant/herbal medicines RCV (Río Cuarto Vasculares) herbarium as file #1955. whose therapeutic indices: permit phytomedicinal The morphological characterization of the plant was application, are low-priced and