Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of skin and parotoid gland extracts of anure from Brazilian semi-arid region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13102/scb8111Abstract
The skin of amphibians has been characterized by the presence of several chemical products with diverse biological activities. These compounds participate as defense mechanisms against pathogens and harmful substances to which amphibians are exposed in their natural habitats. This work aimed to investigate the pharmacological activity of skin and gland extracts prepared from species of anures native or endemic from Brazilian semi-arid region with emphasis on immunomodulatory activity. Aqueous extracts were prepared by homogenization of skins of seven anure species (Hypsiboas crepitans, Hyspsiboas albopunctatus, Bokermannohyla oxente, Leptodactylus ocellatus, Chaunus rubescens, Ceratophrys joazeirensis e Chaunus jimi) and of glands of two species (Chaunus rubescens and Chaunus jimi). To evaluate the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by the extracts, we used J774 cells stimulated with IFN-g and LPS and measured the nitrite concentration using the Griess method 24 hour later. For lymphoproliferation assays, BALB/c mice spleen cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A in the presence or absence of extracts being the proliferative response determined by 3H-thymidine uptake quantification. Of the nine extracts analyzed, five had inhibitory activity superior to 50% in lymphoproliferation assay (skin extract of C. rubescens, B. oxente, Chaunus. jimi, L. ocellatus and gland extract of C. rubescens) and only one extract inhibited NO production (Chaunus rubescens). The results demonstrate that anure species from the Brazilian semi-arid are a potential source of molecules with immunomodulatory activity. Studies aiming to isolate and characterize the active molecule in the skin of C. rubescens are being carried out.
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