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Background. Different pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties, have been described among natural products. We previously described that the Bougainvillea xbuttiana (Variety Orange) ethanolic extract (BxbO) has an anti-inflammatory effect; however, this action is not fully understood. In this study, the action of the BxbO extract on the secretion of inflammatory mediators in two experimental models, in vitro and in vivo, after LPS challenge was evaluated. Methods. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained from female BALB/c mice and LPS-challenged with or without the BxbO extract. For the evaluation of mediators, the supernatants at 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours were collected. For in vivo estimation, groups of female BALB/c mice were first intraperitoneously injected with different amounts of LPS and later administered the oral BxbO extract (v.o.) for 144 hours. To understand the mechanism of action, sera obtained from mice were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after LPS challenge (with or without BxbO) for the detection of mediators. Results. The results showed that, in both peritoneal macrophages and sera of mice treated with the BxbO extract 1 hour before or together with LPS challenge, proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide release were unquestionably repressed. In contrast, in both systems studied here, the IL-10 levels were elevated to 5 to 9 times. At lethal doses of LPS, the BxbO extract treatment was found to protect animals from death. Conclusions. The results revealed that the inhibitory, protective, and benign effects of the BxbO extract were due to its capacity to balance the secretion of mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of macrophages may be one of the possible approaches in modulating inflammation. We previously reported that Bougainvillea xbuttiana extract showed an immunomodulatory activity. Here we compare the activation of macrophages exposed to B. xbuttiana extract and compare it with the other treatments such as LPS, IL-4, and IL-10. The cytotoxic effect of extract on peritoneal macrophages was determined by the technique of violet crystal staining. To verify the activation of macrophages we used the tests of vacuolization, hydrogen peroxide production, and percentages of cellular expansion and phagocytosis. The levels of interleukins secreted by macrophages treated with the extract, LPS, and cytokines were determined by the biological assay for the determination of TNF levels and by ELISA for all other interleukins. NO levels were evaluated by colorimetric reactions using Griess reagent. Our results showed that B. xbuttiana extract induced (a) low cytotoxicity percentages, (b) increased vacuolization, hydrogen peroxide production and cell expansion and phagocytosis percentages, and (c) decreased production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6 and potentiated production of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β. These results suggest that B. xbuttiana extract was able to activate the murine macrophages in a manner similar to those macrophages exposed to IL-4 and IL-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]