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The D10a fraction obtained from the decoction of Uncaria tomentosa was chemically analyzed. An additional aqueous extract (1AERT) from commercial capsules containing powdered cat's claw stem bark was used for comparison purposes. D10a is composed mainly of polyphenols (86%), including the caffeoylquinic derivatives and flavonoid content such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and rutin, quantified by HPLC-PDA. The polyphenolic composition of the 1AERT fraction was 42%. The arabinogalactan-protein contents of the D10a and 1AERT fractions were 0.3% and 24%, respectively. Both fractions were investigated using macrophage cell culture as an in vitro model for immunostimulant screening, which may be a useful approach to evaluate promising candidates for in vivo studies. In vitro macrophage activation by the D10a and 1AERT fractions was evidenced by the typical cell morphology of activated macrophages and by NO production in the case of 1AERT, although D10a did not affect NO production. Both the D10a and 1AERT fractions increased TNF-α and IL-6 levels, in different proportions, and reduced IL-1β levels. Because of the importance of the polyphenolic contents of aqueous extracts of this species, we suggest that the analysis of the composition of these components could be used as a biomarker for their standardization, as well as, for the design of future in vivo studies in the field of pharmacokinetics or nutrikinetic. |
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