Immunoenhancing effect of flavonoid compounds on lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis

Flavonoid compounds are lipophilic agents which can interact with membrane lipids and may affect responsiveness of immune cells. We therefore studied whether cianidanol ((+)-catechin), the O-methyl- derivative (+)-3-methoxy-5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavan and palmitoyl- derivative (+)-3-palmitoyl-ubiquinone 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavan influence T and B cell functions. In addition, immunomolatory property of ubiquinone 50 was also investigated. As controls were used cyclosporin A and and inosine which are known to inhibit or enhance immune responses, respectively. The in vitro spontaneous, antigen and mitogen induced proliferation as well as immunoglobulin synthesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals was determined in the presence of different concentrations of the agents. All flavonoid compounds and ubiquinone 50 significantly increased ( p