Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Ulomoides dermestoides on induced pleurisy in rats and lymphoproliferation in vitro

Inflammation. 2010 Jun;33(3):173-9. doi: 10.1007/s10753-009-9171-x.

Abstract

The following study aimed to evaluate, in vitro and in vivo, the anti-inflammatory effect of Ulomoides dermestoides, a beetle commonly used as a remedy for a variety of diseases including respiratory disorders and asthma. We used an acute inflammation model of injury, injection of carrageenan into the pleural cavity of rats. The rats were treated intraperitoneally with the aqueous extract of U. dermestoides 8 and 16 mg/kg. The exudate volume, protein concentration, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and total leukocyte were measured. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the blood of healthy subjects and we investigated the immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effect of aqueous extract of U. dermestoides. In conclusion, in vitro we observed a non-cytotoxic effect and antiproliferative activity on the dose of 12.5 mg/dL. In vivo, this paper clarifies the great clinical relevance of the aqueous extract of U. dermestoides in elucidating its role as an anti-inflammatory agent.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Brazil
  • Carrageenan / toxicity
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coleoptera*
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Exudates and Transudates / immunology
  • Female
  • Insect Proteins / immunology
  • Insect Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Pleurisy / chemically induced
  • Pleurisy / drug therapy*
  • Pleurisy / immunology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Complex Mixtures
  • Insect Proteins
  • Carrageenan