A Tamarindus indica. Linn Pulp Polysaccharide Inhibits Fever In Vivo. and IL-1β Release by Murine Peritoneal Exudate Cells

Abstract

A water-soluble crude polysaccharide was obtained from the pulp of Tamarindus indica. Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) (TpPs). Gas chromatography analysis of a hydrolyzed sample confirmed the main chain of (1→4)-β-D-glucan, containing glucose, xylose, and galactose. TpPs was assayed in febrile rats and Balb/c mice. Pyrexia was induced in rats by subcutaneous yeast injection, and in mice with an intraperitoneal injection of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli.. Animals were treated with different oral TpPs doses (5–100 mg/kg). A significant dose-dependent reduction of the rectal temperature was observed. We also analyzed the effect on cytokines response to in vitro. TpPs treatment in peritoneal exudates cells (PECs), as well as in response to LPS cell stimulation. IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines were measured in the supernatants through ELISA assays. Cells treated with LPS (10 µg/mL) or TpPs (100 µg/mL) alone resulted in a significant release of IL-1β. Our results indicate that, depending upon the experimental conditions, TpPs (0.005–0.5 µg/mL) abolished the IL-1β response to LPS cell stimulation, but at higher doses (50–100 µg/mL) increased it, and reduced significantly the IL-6 response. In febrile rats and Balb/c mice, TpPs did prevent fever in a dose-dependent manner. These preliminary findings show an in vitro. modulating effect by TpPs in IL-1β profile at the local immune cellular level, and both febrifuge and hypothermic responses in a mouse model.

Keywords:

• Fever
• interleukin-1β
• interleukin-6
• polysaccharide
• pulp
• Tamarindus indica. Linn
• xyloglucan