MODULATORY EFFECTS OF ARTEMISIA-ANNUA EXTRACTS ON HUMAN-COMPLEMENT, NEUTROPHIL OXIDATIVE BURST AND PROLIFERATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES

Air-dried aerial parts of Artemisia annua were extracted with petroleu m ether, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water successively. The extracts were screened for their in vitro effects on human comple ment, proliferation of T lymphocytes, and chemiluminescence by zymosan -stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. All extracts exhibited dose- dependent inhibitory activities in our immunoassays. The highest activ ity towards the classical pathway of complement was found in ethyl ace tate and ethanol extracts, whereas in the chemiluminescence assay, die thyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts showed the most pronounced inhib itory activities. In the T-cell proliferation assay, the diethyl ether extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect. Artemisinin show ed no immunomodulatory activity in our assays.