Abstract Detail

Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Pantuso, Traci [1], Drum, Ryan [1], Lund, Kaleb [1].

Immunomodulating Effects of Oplopanax horridus.

Devil’sClub, Oplopanax horridus (Sm.) Miq.(Araliaceae) (syn. Fatsia horrida(Sm) Benth. & Hook.; Echinopanaxhorridus (Sm.) Decne. & Planch; Panaxhorridum (Sm.)), is a deciduous shrub of the Araliaceae or Ginseng family native to the Northwestern United States. Native Americans of British Colombia and the Northwestern United States regard Devil’s Club as an important medicinal plant. Traditional medicinal uses of Oplopanax horridus(OH) include its use as an antibacterial, antifungal, antimycobacterial, antiviral and as an immunomodulator for rheumatism and diabetes. Previously it has been shown that extracts of OH have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-mycobacterial properties. The mechanisms of action of OH’s effects have not been established and there are few studies that have presented chromatographic profiles of OH extracts. OH extracts have demonstrated a dose dependent decrease in nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line, which may partially explain the traditional use of OH as an immunomodulator for both rheumatism and diabetes. Macrophage populations are a heterogeneous group of myeloid derived cells that are found in many different tissues and demonstrate population dependent protein expression. LPS induced bactericidal macrophages release increased levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-12, which are all required to fight intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. To further understand the effects of OH extract on LPS stimulated macrophage activation, the bark of recumbent stems of Oplopanax horridus were collected in Skagit County, Washington and ethanol and water extracts were prepared and assessed for their anti-nitric oxide and anti-TNF-alpha activities in an in vitro RAW264.7 macrophage cell line model. The ethanol extract showed increased nitric oxide and TNF-alpha inhibition compared to the water extract.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Bastyr University, Research, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, Wa, 98028, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:45 PM
Number: PEN018
Abstract ID:531