The effects of oral administration of peiminine on the functions of peritoneal macrophages

Peiminine is an alkaloid extracted from the bulbs of Fritillaria thunbergii with deep pharmacological effects. However, there is no or limited information about the possible effect of the peiminine on the function of immune cells. This study was done to investigate the impact of oral administration of peiminine for one month on the function of peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice. The male Balb/c mice were randomly allocated to four equal groups (n=10) and treated orally with doses of 0, 1, 3 and 6 mg/kg of peiminine (dissolved in PBS) for one month. After 30 days, the peritoneal macrophages of the mice were isolated and their function was evaluated ex vivo. Analysis of data indicated an increase in phagocytosis in macrophages obtained from mice treated with peiminine in a non-dose-dependent manner. NR uptake did not show any change between the vitality of macrophages isolated from different studding group. Also, receiving peiminine by mice in a dose-dependent manner has reduced the production of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals by macrophages. Ex vivo secretion of IL-12 by LPS-stimulated macrophage significantly down-regulated in a dose dependent manner compared to macrophages isolated from mice without treatment. Also, the production of IL-10 by LPS-stimulated macrophages isolated from mice received low to moderate doses of peiminine significantly increased compared to macrophages alone. These findings proposed that the macrophage isolated from mice orally received peiminine had an anti-inflammatory phenotype.