Modulation of cytokine production and complement activity by biopolymers extracted from medicinal plants

This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts obtained from the medicinal plants Aster tataricus, Pinellia ternata, Ostericum koreanum, Platicodon grandiflorum, Asarum sieboldii, Tussilage farfara, and Acanthopanax sessiliflorus. These plants are used in Korea to treat inflammatory and respiratory ailments, including asthma. The hot water extract (HWE) of A. sessiliflorus inhibited production of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5. The HWE of A. tataricus, O. koreanum, P. grandiflorum, A. sieboldii and T. farfara had similar inhibitory effects on IFN-γ and IL-5. The endo-polysaccharide (ENP) screened were less active than the HWE and had varying effects on the production of cytokines. The HWE fractions from all the plants except that from P.grandiflorum had marked anti-complement activity at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml. The ENP of A. sieboldii, T. farfara and A. sessiliflorus exhibited significant anti-complement activity compared to the positive control.