The antiviral effects of acteoside and the underlying IFN-γ-inducing action

Food Funct. 2016 Jul 13;7(7):3017-30. doi: 10.1039/c6fo00335d.

Abstract

There are many herbal teas that are found in nature that may be effective at treating the symptoms and also shortening the duration of viral infections. When combating viral infections, T lymphocytes are an indispensable part of human acquired immunity. However, studies on the use of natural products in stimulating lymphocyte-mediated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production are very limited. In this study, we found that acteoside, a natural phenylpropanoid glycoside from Kuding Tea, enhanced IFN-γ production in mouse lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner, particularly in the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets of T lymphocytes. To this end, we suggest that the antiviral activity of acteoside was highly correlated to its inducing ability of IFN-γ production. Mechanistically, the activation of T-bet enhanced the promoter of IFN-γ and subsequently resulted in an increased IFN-γ production in T cells. Collectively, we have found a natural product with the capacity to selectively enhance mouse T cell IFN-γ production. Given the role of IFN-γ in the immune system, further studies to clarify the role of acteoside in inducing IFN-γ and prevention of viral infection are needed.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glycosides / pharmacology
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phenols / pharmacology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Teas, Herbal / analysis

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Glucosides
  • Glycosides
  • Phenols
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Teas, Herbal
  • acteoside
  • Interferon-gamma