J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Feb; 64(2): 109-15.

Stimulation of interleukin-1 and -6 production in alveolar macrophages by the neotropical liana, Uncaria tomentosa (uÃ±a de gato)

Lemaire I, Assinewe V, Cano P, Awang DV, Arnason JT.

Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ont., Canada.

Two extracts of different collections of the traditional medicine uÃ±a de gato (Uncaria tomentosa) from Peru were characterized by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography as containing approximately 6 mg/g total oxindole content prior to studies with alveolar macrophages. The plant preparations greatly stimulated IL-1 and IL-6 production by rat macrophages in a dose dependent manner in the range of 0.025-0.1 mg/ml. They were also able to enhance IL-1 and -6 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. The results suggest a strong immunostimulant action of this plant.