The Hydroalcoholic Extract Obtained from Mentha piperita L. Leaves Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Improves Survival in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Macrophages. (20th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arruda, Mariana Oliveira; Mendes, Saulo José Figueiredo; Teixeira, Simone Aparecida; de Mesquita, Ludmilla Santos Silva; de Sousa Ribeiro, Maria Nilce; Galvão, Stanley de Sousa Lima; Muscará, Marcelo Nicolás; Fernandes, Elizabeth Soares; Monteiro-Neto, Valério
• Other Names: Ortuño-Sahagún Daniel Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of immunology research. Volume 2017(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09-20
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.07905
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/2078794
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-8861

Abstract

Abstract : Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) possesses antimicrobial properties, but little is known of its ability to modulate macrophages. Macrophages are essential in bacterial infection control due to their antimicrobial functions and ability to link the innate and adaptive immune responses. We evaluated the effects of the peppermint leaf hydroalcoholic extract (LHAE) on cultured murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro . Vehicle-treated cells were used as controls. The constituents of the extract were also identified. Epicatechin was the major compound detected in the LHAE. LPS-induced macrophage death was reversed by incubation with LHAE (1–30 μ g/ml). Higher concentrations of the extract (≥100 μ g/ml) decreased macrophage viability (49–57%) in the absence of LPS. LHAE (1–300 μ g/ml) attenuated H2 O2 (34.6–53.4%) but not nitric oxide production by these cells. At similar concentrations, the extract increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (15.3–63.5-fold) and glutathione peroxidase (34.4–73.6-fold) in LPS-treated macrophages. Only LPS-unstimulated macrophages presented enhanced phagocytosis (3.6–6.6-fold increase) when incubated with LHAE (3–30 μ g/ml). Overall, the LHAE obtained from peppermint modulates macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses, by stimulating the antioxidant pathway in these cells. These effects may be beneficial when the excessive activation of macrophages contributes to tissue damage during infectious disease.