The Effect of Echinops Lasiolepis Extracts, Native Plant of Yazd Province, on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Proliferation and IFN-γ Secretion

Background and Aims: The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Echinops lasiolepis extract on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proliferation and interferon (IFN)-&gamma secretion. Materials and Methods: PBMCs were obtained from three healthy volunteers and cultured in presence of Echinops lasiolepis methanol extract in different concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 200 &micro;g/ml. Lipopolysacharide (LPS) and Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were considered as mitogen. BrdU cell proliferation assay was used to determine cell proliferation. The concentration of IFN-&gamma in the PBMCs supernatant was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Most concentrations of Echinops lasiolepis methanol extract showed inhibitory effect on PBMCs proliferation. There were significant differences between the concentrations of 200, 1 and 0.1 &micro;g/ml (p<0.05). The optimum proliferation (30.66&plusmn;24.67%) was obtained at concentration 1 &micro;g/ml. The PBMCs supernatant IFN-&gamma concentrations in extract treated group without PHA and LPS and in PHA activated group were not significantly different. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that Echinops lasiolepis extract has immunomodulating activity which may be potentialy to used as an immunotherapy agent.