Immunomodulation of Human Blood Phagocytes by Strychnos Pseudoquina ST. HILL Adsorbed to Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the adsorption of Strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL. ("Quina do Cerrado") onto PEG microspheres and to verify the immunomodulatory effect on blood phagocytes. 120 blood samples from humans were used to obtain the phagocytes. Preparation of plant extract of Strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL. was carried out by maceration followed by distillation. The PEG microspheres were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and infrared spectrum, while the functional activity of phagocytes was measured by the release of superoxide, phagocytosis and microbicidal activity of blood phagocytes. The analysis of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that the PEG microsphere had approximately 5.8 mu m in size and that "Quina do Cerrado" and its fractions were able to absorb onto PEG microspheres. The adsorption of the plant and its fractions to the PEG microspheres increased the functional activity of phagocytes. These data show that the adsorption of the extract of Strychnos pseudo quina ST. HILL. on PEG microspheres can be an important functional new material for future clinical applications in inflammatory and chronic degenerative diseases.