ACTIVATION OF PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES BY MANGIFERIN, A NATURALLY-OCCURRING XANTHONE

Mangiferin, a C-glucosylxanthone (1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-beta-D-glucoside), isolated from several plant sources, was shown to be effective in activating murine peritoneal macrophages. It acted as a strong inducing agent with a peak elicitation response at 48 h interval of treatment (10 mug mangiferin/g body weight, g b.w). The mangiferin-elicited, as well as in vitro mangiferin-treated, macrophages showed increased lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase activity and enhanced cytotoxicity, and phagocytosis against ascitic fibrosarcoma (AFS) cells. The augmented tumour killing activities were associated with enhanced tumour target binding by the macrophages. However, the in vivo effect of mangiferin in activating macrophages was of short duration.