Immunomodulatory Effects Of Scrocaffeside A Monomer From Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora In Vitro

Picrorrhizae rhizome is the roots from Scrophulariaceae plant. It has very effective function to protect liver, decrease hypolipemia, antibiosis and dephlogisticate and so on. Analysis of recently reports about Picrorrhizae rhizome, we conclude that there are some elements in the Picrorrhizae rhizome may have immune modulate activity. Picrorrhizae rhizome is a natural Chinese traditional medicine; its extractions have a great deal of merits which do not exist in the chemical synthesis medicine. Double effect of Picrorrhizae rhizome in immune modulate and antitumor decide it has much potential and need us to develop it.Our lab successfully isolated a monomer, E-caffeoyl--6-(4-O-β-D-glucopyrano- se)-E-caffeoyl O-β-D-glucopyranoside, named Scrocaffeside A (SA) from the roots of P. scrophulariiflora. In vitro study shows that SA has strong effect on immunomodulate. SA stimulated cell proliferation of splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages energy metabolism. SA enhanced activation of Natural killer cells (NK cells). SA increased CD4+CD8—and CD4+CD8—cell population. SA also increases S period cell population. Furthermore, for deeply understand its mechanism, several cytokines were examined. We found that the level of Th1(IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ)significantly increased , and Th2 ( IL-4,IL-10) also increased after SA treatment. Token together, these results indicated that SA might have potential effects on regulating immune system.In the present studies, SA significantly increased proliferation of splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages at middle range of dosages (25-125 mg/L) without any stimulation. These effects were markedly enhanced by presence of either LPS or Con A. SA could facilitate either LPS or Con A to stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes, demonstrate that SA could enhance both cellular immunity and humoral immunity. These conclusions were further supported by SA enhanced CD4+ and CD8+ cell population experiment.NK cells are a part of innate immune system and play a major role in defending the host from both tumors and virally infected cells. In the present paper, we demonstrated that SA significantly enhanced NK function to kill target K562 cell. The result together with SA promoted proliferation of peritoneal macrophages, another innate immune component, indicated that SA not only enhanced adaptive immunity but also activated innate immunity. Besides by the study I mentioned above, we think that SA should be further study to test its effect. Because there is little extractions in the present, we plan to continue our study by other method like make a large amount extract or chemical synthesis, then go on the vivo experiments for test its activities.Picrorrhizae rhizome has been recognized as a traditional Chinese medicine. Its ant disease effect has been realized by world wide. But the research of Picrorrhizae rhizome is stay at compound preparation and crude extract for a long period of time, there isn't any progress in this area. We do not have the reliable and credible evidence to demonstrate the effective elements in Picrorrhizae rhizome. Although some study illustrates the crude extraction from Picrorrhizae rhizome could modulate immune system, use as a immunologic adjuvant. But we could not conclude which components in the immunologic adjuvant are principles. So we must do a lot of work for it.The most important contribution of our work is makes it clear that one monomer extract from the Picrorrhizae rhizome has immune modulates effect. However we could not conduct large scale vivo experiments to test its effect, do not have the evidence in molecular biology and cytobiology, we provide the clue for the further research in Picrorrhizae rhizome. In my work we test the fact that Picrorrhizae rhizome has a potential to become an immune adjuvant, it has very well activity in immune modulate as well. It has utilized value in medicine industry.Chinese traditional medicines gradients are very complex. There is a lot of questions need us to resolve. In other hand, Picrorrhizae rhizome has a lot of functions, its mechanism between different organic is very complex. To demonstrate all of questions require us do a lot of work. The tendency of pharmacology process and the utilization of the biochemistry technology are all reveal the fact that we could get the useful things from pharmacology before long.