Anti-encephalitogenic effects of cucumber leaf extract

Journal of Functional Foods

Gordana Timotijević¹  Djordje Miljković²  Neda Djedović²  Bojan Jevtić²  Suzana Stanisavljević²  Danijela Mišić³  Uroš Gašić⁴  Jovana Despotović⁵  Jelena Samardžić⁶ 

[1] Corresponding author at: Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, Department of Immunology, Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.;Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia;Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia;Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia;Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia;Laboratory for Plant Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11000, Serbia;

关键词: Cucumber;    Cucurbitacin;    T cell;    Macrophage;    Autoimmunity;    Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit has been used in cuisine worldwide, while its leaves are rich in immunomodulatory compounds. Cucumber leaf extract (CLE) was characterized by the predominance of triterpenoids cucurbitacins and significant levels of phenolics. Effects of CLE on CD4+ T helper (Th) cells and macrophages, as the major encephalitogenic cells in the autoimmunity of the central nervous system were investigated in our study. CLE potently inhibited production of major pathogenic Th cytokines: interferon-gamma and interleukin-17, as well as of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in macrophages. Antigen-presenting activity of macrophages and dendritic cells was also affected by CLE. The effects of CLE were co-incident with modulation of NFκB and p38 MAPK signaling. Concentrations of CLE used in vitro did not show toxic effects on zebrafish embryos. Moreover, CLE inhibited generation of encephalitogenic cells in vivo. These results demonstrate that CLE deserve further investigation on its anti-encephalitogenic therapeutic properties.

【 授权许可】

Unknown