Table 6 The chosen immunomodulatory plants identified either traditionally or based on their prior literature review studies, to heal immune related diseases.
Plant name | Family | Pharmacological action | References |
|---|---|---|---|
Allium sativum | Amaryllidaceae | Prevents the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) | |
Artemisia annua | Asteraceae | Suppresses the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction—Had inhibitory effect on calmodulin | |
Calendula officinalis | Asteraceae | Possess anti-inflammatory activities—inhibits the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation | |
Camellia sinensis | Theaceae | Possess anti-inflammatory properties | |
Cannabis sativa | Cannabaceae | Inhibits the proliferation of lymphocytes | |
Cichorium intybus | Asteraceae | Inhibits the lymphocyte proliferation assay in the presence of PHA (phytohemagglutinin) | |
Citrullus colocynthis | Cucurbitaceae | Reduces the cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A (con-A) | |
Citrus aurantium | Rutaceae | Active against concanavalin A and LPS (lipopolysaccharide) induced proliferation in both thymocytes and splenocytes, respectively | |
Curcuma longa | Zingiberaceae | Potent suppressor to various pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and IL-1β—It also suppresses TH1 and TH17 -mediated inflammatory response | |
Cynara scolymus | Asteraceae | High doses suppress the delayed-type hypersensitivity response | |
Ephedra sinica | Ephedraceae | Inhibits the splenocyte proliferation and suppresses the humoral immune response | |
Euphorbia species ((E. royleana, E. lacteal, E. tirucalli Boiss)) | Euphorbiaceae | Reduces CD4 + T cells and neutrophils, inhibits IL-2 and the process of phagocytosis | |
Glycyrrhiza glabra | Fabaceae | Down-regulates IgE production, inhibits calcineurin activity and T cell proliferation | |
Lawsonia inermis | Lythraceae | Inhibits lymphocyte transformation | |
Linum usitatissimum | Linaceae | Inhibits mitogen (concanavalin A)-induced response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes | |
Matricaria chamomilla | Asteraceae | Disrupts Th1/Th2 balance to Th1 upregulation and decreases the IL-6 and TNF-α production | |
Nigella sativa | Ranunculaceae | Reduces the serum antibody titre, dysregulates the intracellular killing and cytokine production | |
Oleu europea | Oleaceae | Modulates the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, reduces the expression of COX2 and causes a dose-dependent reduction of PGE2 | |
Panax ginseng | Araliaceae | Inhibits Th1 and helper T cell 17 (Th17) differentiation—Decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines | |
Physalis peruviana | Solanaceae | Reduces the release of IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) | |
Piper cubeba | Piperaceae | Reduces the cell proliferation induced by concanavalin A | |
Propolis | Bee product | High doses inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and possesses anti-inflammatory properties | |
Punica granatum | Lythraceae | Inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells, decreases CD3 + T cell infiltration of the inflamed tissue | |
Salvia officinalis L | Lamiaceae | Decreases the inflammation induced by LPS and reduces the blood levels of TNF-α and NF-κB | |
Sesamum indicum | Pedaliaceae | Decreases white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IL-6 and TNF-α | |
Silybum marianum | Asteraceae | Silymarin reduces Th1-linked cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α) in addition to reduction of MAPKs’ activities (ERK1/2 and P38) | |
Tanacetum parthenium | Asteraceae | Reduces several pro-inflammatory enzymes and mediators including phosphodiesterase-3 and 4, 5-lipoxygenase, NO, PGE2, IL-4 and TNF-α | |
Trigonella foenum-graecum | Fabaceae | Inhibits the inflammatory enzymes such as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase Reduces the levels of TNF-α , IL-6, ↓arthritic index and ↓rheumatoid factor | |
Urtica dioica | Urticaceae | Suppresses the human dendritic cells maturation, ↓ induction of primary T cell responses and ↓ TNF-α | |
Withania somnifera | Solanaceae | Produces immunosuppressive action on B and T cell activity in hyper-immune states | |
Xanthium strumarium L | Asteraceae | Suppresses the overproduction of IL-1β, TNF-α, cyclooxygenase -2 and 5- lipoxygenase | |
Zingiber officinale | Zingiberaceae | Reduces inflammation in arthritis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways |
