Trichilia glabra: effect on the phagocytic activity and respiratory burst response of peritoneal macrophages

A diminution in the phagocytic capability and respiratory burst response of murine peritoneal macrophages was observed when these cells were treated ' in vitro' with Trichilia glabra leaf aqueous extract. The effect was not ob served when non-specific phagocytosis was tested. The extract also inhibite d binding of opsonized erythrocytes to macrophages, thus indicating that th e observed antiphagocytic effect is possibly due to the failure of opsonize d particles to bind to these cells. A low molecular weight fraction is resp onsible for the reported activities. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.