Evaluation of the Methanol Extract of Yazd Native Plants on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Proliferation and IL-4 Secretion

Echinops ilicifolius, Echinops jesdianus, Echinops ceratophorus and Echinops lasiolepis are defined as native plants of Yazd that their immunomedulatory effects have not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of these plants on peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) proliferation and interleukin(IL)-4 secretions. Root extracts of Echinops ilicifolius, Echinops jesdianus, Echinops ceratophorus and Echinops lasiolepis were prepared by Maceration method. PBMCs were obtained from three healthy volunteer individuals and cultured with the presence of 0.1,1,10,100 and 200 µg/ml with concentrations of 10 µg/ml of phytohemagglutinin. The rate of cell proliferation was determined by BrdU kit. The IL-4 levels in PBMCs. supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). P value<0.05 was considered significant. The different concentrations of root extracts of all plants showed inhibitory effect on PBMCs. There was a significant difference among Echinops lasiolepis extracts in different concentrations(p=0.045). The levels of IL-4 were similar in super natant in control group and different concentrations and the control groups. The results showed that root extracts of Echinops species had inhibitory effect on PBMCs proliferation and in some species with decrease in IL-4 secretion might have immunomedulatory effects. The effect of Echinops extract fractions on PBMC is suggested.