Effect of Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos extract) on in vitro production of cytokines

The Combination of Sulforaphane and Fernblock® XP Improves Individual Beneficial Effects in Normal and Neoplastic Human Skin Cell Lines

Plenty of evidence supports the health effects exerted by dietary supplements containing phytochemicals, but the actual efficacy and safety of their combinations have been seldom experimentally evaluated. On this basis, we investigated in vitro the antioxidant/antineoplastic efficacy and anti-aging activity of a dietary supplement containing sulforaphane (SFN), a sulfur-isothiocyanate present in broccoli, combined with the patented extract Fernblock^® XP (FB), obtained from the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos. We evaluated the effect of SFN and FB, alone or in combination, on migration ability, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) production, neoangiogenic potential and inflammasome activation in human WM115 and WM266-4 melanoma cells. Moreover, the effects on MMPs and reactive oxygen species production, and IL-1β secretion were studied in human normal keratinocytes. The SFN/FB combination inhibited melanoma cell migration in vitro, MMP-1, -2, -3, and -9 production, inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion more efficiently than each individual compound did. In normal keratinocytes, SFN/FB was more efficient than SFN or FB alone in inhibiting MMP-1 and -3 production and IL-1β secretion in the presence of a pro-inflammatory stimulus such as TNF-α. The potential use of SFN/FB based supplements for the prevention of skin aging and as adjuvants in the treatment of advanced melanoma is suggested.

Immunomodulatory effect of Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) in child palatine tonsil model

BACKGROUND

Recurrent tonsillitis might reduce the immunological capability of fighting against the infection of tonsil tissue. Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) immunomodulating effect has been subject of research in the last years. The aim of this research is to test the in vitro immunomodulating capacity of Anapsos in a child palatine tonsil explants model.

METHODS

Palatine tonsils explants of children undergoing amigdalectomy were stimulated with mononuclear cells obtained from their own blood by density gradient centrifugation. Some were then treated with Anapsos while others rest untreated. Cytokines were measured by ELISA, immune cells activation was measured by flow cytometry and activation of immunoglobulins was appreciated by indirect immunofluorescence in tonsils tissue.

RESULTS

Anapsos activates Natural Killers cells. It increases IL-2 and IFN-γ levels by the activation of Th2 lymphocytes, and IL-10, by the Th1 lymphocytes. Anapsos also increases immunoglobulins IgM, IgD and IgG4 by B-lymphocyte activation in tonsils tissue.

CONCLUSION

Anapsos has an immunomodulating effect, both in humoral and cellular responses, which might benefit children suffering of recurrent tonsillitis as it could enhance their immune system. This effect might reduce the number of episodes suffered and therefore the number of children undergoing surgery.

Polypodium leucotomos Extract use to prevent and reduce the risk of infectious diseases in high performance athletes

Objective

Many components of the immune system undergo adverse changes during intense physical activity in athletes, leading to a heightened risk of respiratory tract infections. This study evaluated the reduction in infectious processes in athletes due to intensive training with anapsos.

Methods

The study compared athletes who took 480 mg Polypodium leucotomos Extract (Armaya fuerte; Centrum laboratories, Alicante, Spain) twice daily for 3 months (n = 50) with a control group (n = 50) in the evaluation of the onset of infectious processes and relapses during an 8-month period (June 2010 to January 2011).

Results

The onset of infectious processes in the Polypodium leucotomos Extract group was lower when compared to the control group (14% versus 56%). Relapse in the Polypodium leucotomos Extract group was seen in just one athlete (14.2%) compared to ten athletes (37.5%) in the control group.

Conclusion

Polypodium leucotomos Extract has been shown to be useful in the prevention of infectious processes, as well as reducing recurring episodes in athletes.

In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Phlebodium decumanum. Modulation of tumor necrosis factor and soluble TNF receptors

The immunomodulatory activity of a standardized water soluble fraction of the fern Phlebodium decumanum (EXPLY-37) previously shown to have "in vivo" anti-inflammatory activity was analyzed "in vitro". This extract inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS plus interferon (IFN)-gamma. In contrast, nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-1beta production were not affected in the same cultures, whereas IL-6 production was partially inhibited. More interestingly, EXPLY-37 increased the release of soluble TNF-receptor 2 (sTNFR2) and of IL-1R antagonist (IL-1Ra) but not of sTNFR1, by activated macrophages. EXPLY-37 had no effect on T lymphocyte activation, measured as proliferation as well as expression of early and late cell surface antigens CD69, CD25 (IL-2R-alpha) and CD71 (transferrin receptor) at the cell membrane. At the molecular level, EXPLY-37 did not inhibit the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcription factor by TNF. In summary, EXPLY-37 has two anti-inflammatory activities "in vitro": it decreases TNF production and increases IL-1Ra and sTNFR2, which may be able to neutralize IL-1 and TNF activity, respectively.

Calagualine inhibits nuclear transcription factors-kappaB activated by various inflammatory and tumor promoting agents

Calagualine derived from the fern of the genus Polypodium, commonly called calaguala, has had clinically documented medicinal uses in South America and Spain and been shown to block tumor metastasis, proliferation, and inflammation, all known to require the activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Therefore, we investigated the effect of calagualine on NF-kappaB activation induced by various inflammatory and tumor promoting agents. Calagualine blocked tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced activation of NF-kappaB through inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. The effects of calagualine were not cell type-specific, as it blocked TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation in a variety of cells. NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene transcription activated by TNF was also suppressed by calagualine. The TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation cascade involving TNFR1-TNF receptor-associated death domain-TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)-NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK)-IkappaBalpha kinase was interrupted at the TRAF2 and NIK sites by calagualine, which would account for its suppression of NF-kappaB reporter gene expression. Calagualine blocked NF-kappaB activation induced by phorbol ester and lipopolysaccharide. Overall our results indicate that calagualine inhibits activation of NF-kappaB and this may provide a molecular basis for calagualine's ability to suppress inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Modulation by Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos extract) of the antibody responses against the nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis

The immunomodulant effects of Anapsos, an extract of the naturally occurring fern Polypodium leucotomos was assessed in Balb/c mice immunized with a crude soluble extract (CSE) of Trichinella spiralis L1 larvae. Treatment from day 10 to 1 prior to immunization caused a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in total antibody levels (IgG + M) that was evident from week 2 onwards. Suppression of the IgG1 response was transient, as serum levels were significantly (p < 0. 01) decreased in treated animals during weeks 2 and 3 post-immunization, afterwards increasing to values similar to those in the control group. An opposite pattern was observed in the IgG2a and IgG 2b profiles where, following a brief increase in weeks 3 and 1, respectively, the values fell below those of the control and remained for the whole observation. Anapsos potentiates the IgG3 response against T. spiralis CSE. Deglycosylation of the CSE used in the ELISA assay significantly reduces the IgG3 recognition capacity in both control and treated mice. This treatment did not affect the time-course of an intestinal infection by T. spiralis.