Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on the production of three hematopoietic cytokines in splenocytes from immunosuppressed mice

Lepidium meyenii Walp, Brassicaceae (Maca) is a plant native to Peru to conferring immunostimulatory activity. The objective was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the aqueous extract (EAc) of yellow ecotype on gene expression of three hematopoietic cytokines (IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-7) in splenocytes from Balb/c mice immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide. Levels of mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. Two days after immunosuppression (IS), in splenocytes from mice treated with EAc increased expression of mRNA was demonstrated for IL-3, GM-CSF e IL-7 (p < 0.05) compared to the untreated group. Five days after IS, in mice treated with EAc found higher cell counts in bone marrow, peripheral blood and endogenous colonies formed units in spleen compared to the untreated group. It is concluded that administration of EAc in immunocompromised mice can reverse the suppressive effects of cyclophosphamide. © 2013 Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas.