Abstract

A commercial aqueous stem bark extract of Mangifera indica L. (Vimang((R))) has been reported to have antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The molecular basis for these diverse properties is still unknown. This study shows that a stem bark extract of M. indica inhibits early and late events in T cell activation, including CD25 cell surface expression, progression to the S-phase of the cell cycle and proliferation in response to T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. Moreover, the extract prevented TNF alpha-induced I kappa B alpha degradation and the binding of NF-kappa B to the DNA. This study may help to explain at the molecular level some of the biological activities attributed to the aqueous stem bark extract of M. indica (Vimang((R))). Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.