Effects of Ephedrine and Ephedra fragilis Crude Extracts on Human Peripheral Lymphocytes
E. Attard1★, K. Vella2★ Corresponding author
- 1aInstitute of Agriculture, University of Malta, Msida, Malta MSD 2080.
- 2bDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta, MSD2080.
Received: 02-02-2009; Accepted: 20-02-2009.
Volume 1, Issue 2 · pp. 38–42 · PUBLISHED Mar-Apr 2009 · DOI:
View on Pharmacogn. Res. original site ↗
ABSTRACT
Ephedra fragilis Desf. (Ephedraceae), a locally cultivated medicinal plant, is a source of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, two important alkaloids, which have long played an important pharmacological role. The present study investigated the in vitro effects of ephedrine and the Ephedra branch extract on unstimulated lymphocytes. Ephedra alkaloids were extracted from various plant parts and after phytochemical analysis, the brine shrimp lethality test was used to determine the activity of the extracts. The LC50 of the branch extract was 581.395 µg/ml, showing no statistical difference from that of ephedrine (208.203 µg/ml). The ephedrine and extract did not show toxic effects on lymphocytes but exhibited immunostimulant activity. Although ephedrine cannot be used as an immune booster, it can be used as a lead drug for further immunological research.
KEYWORDS
REFERENCES
As publishedShowing references and in-text citations exactly as published.
Cite this article
SELECT FORMAT
Attard, E., & Vella, K. (2009). Effects of Ephedrine and Ephedra fragilis Crude Extracts on Human Peripheral Lymphocytes. Pharmacognosy Research, 1(2), 38–42.