Immunosuppressive phenolic compounds from Hydnora abyssinica A. Braun

BACKGROUND: Hydnora abyssinica (HA) A. Braun is an endemic Sudanese medicinal plant traditionally used as anti-inflammatory and against many infectious diseases. However, it proved to be very rich in phenols and tannins, so the present study was undertaken to investigate the immunomodulatory potential of the whole plant ethanolic extract and its isolated compounds. METHODS: Lymphocyte proliferation, chemiluminescence and superoxide reduction assays were used for immunomodulatory evaluation. While, MTT (3–(4, 5-dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazonium bromide) test was performed on 3 T3 cell line clone in order to evaluate the cytoxicity effect of the extracts and isolated compounds of phenolic derivatives which were carried out by chromotographic techniques. RESULTS: Catechin, (1), tyrosol (2) and benzoic acid, 3, 4, dihydroxy-, ethyl ester (3) compounds were isolated from HA ethanolic extract which revealed potent immunosuppressive activity against reactive oxygen species from both polymorph nuclear cells (PMNs) (45–90 % inhibition) and mononuclear cells (MNCs) (30 -65 % inhibition), T lymphocyte proliferation assay (70–93 % inhibition) as well as potent inhibitory effect against superoxide production (42–71 % inhibition) at concentrations of 6.25–100 μg/mL. Catechin (1) was found the most potent immunosuppressive agent among all constituents examined. CONCLUSION: These results can support the traditional uses of H. abyssinica extracts as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive and further investigations of the mode of action and other pharmacological studies are highly desirable.