Immunomodulatory effects of the methanolic extract from Pouteria campechiana leaves in macrophage functions

The present study aimed to examine the immunomodulatory properties of the methanolic (MeOH) extract from Pouteria. campechiana leaves in peritoneal macrophages of Balb/c mice. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice and Vero cells were treated with the MeOH extract from leaves. Cell viability of the macrophages and Vero cells were evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide method. The phagocytic activity, as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-) production were evaluated on peritoneal macrophages. Results showed that the MeOH extract from leaves was able to stimulate the phagocytic activity and increase NO, H2O2 and cytokines production. The viability assays do not show cytotoxic effect on cell viability and cause a significative proliferative effect in the macrophages of a concentration-dependent manner. These results conclude that the MeOH extract from P.campechiana leaves possessed a stronger immunostimulatory effect in a concentration-dependent manner without affect the cell viability.