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Effect of saponin from Quillaja saponaria (molina) on antibody, tumour necrosis factor and interferon‐gamma production
Author(s) -
VC Gebara,
VL Petricevich,
Raw I.,
WD Da Silva
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
biotechnology and applied biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1470-8744
pISSN - 0885-4513
DOI - 10.1111/j.1470-8744.1995.tb00341.x
Subject(s) - saponin , immune system , antibody , antigen , biology , tumor necrosis factor alpha , cytokine , adjuvant , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , pathology , alternative medicine
Saponin has been described to contain adjuvant activity in vaccination protocols, in protection against disease, and on humoral immune response. In this paper we describe the effect of a pure saponin from Quillaja saponaria (molina) on the immune response elicited in mice by two antigens, BSA and Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom. Antibody production as measured by ELISA shows that saponin was able to increase antibody synthesis to both antigens. Moreover, mice immunized with verom plus saponin were completely protected against the lethal effects of the venom. The effect of saponin was also evaluated for cytokine production. Tumour necrosis factor activity about 2.9 times higher than in control mice was detectable in sera from animals immunized with saponin. Interferon‐gamma was produced only when BSA and saponin were injected together into the mice.