IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACTIVITY OF 2 PLANT STEROIDAL LACTONES, WITHAFERIN-A AND WITHANOLIDE-E

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (1) , 18-24
Abstract
Withaferin A and withanolide E, 2 steroidal lactones of plant origin, have specific immunosuppressive effects on human B [bone marrow-derived] and T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes and on mice thymocytes. EAC [erythrocyte, antibody, complement] rosette and E rosette formation by normal human and T lymphocytes were inhibited by the 2 compounds at very low concentrations. The formation of mouse red blood rosettes by chronic lymphatic leukemic cells were only inhibited by withaferin A. The functional activity of normal human T lymphocytes as assessed by a local xenogenic graft vs. host reaction was also affected by these 2 plant steroidal lactones. There was a specific action of the compound on antigen recognition as well as the proliferative capacity of T and B lymphocytes.