[The effect of products of plant and microbial origin on phagocytic function and on the release of oxygen free radicals by mouse peritoneal macrophages].

The effect of in vivo stimulation with an aqueous extract obtained from roots of Symphytum officinale and Cantastim on mouse peritoneal macrophages was investigated. The results obtained showed that these products initially activated the respiratory burst of the cells and later inhibited it, activating the synthesis of catalase, SOD etc. These data suggest that macrophages challenged by various ingested antigens destroy them initially through oxygen dependent mechanisms and later through enzymatic digestion in order to retain unimpaired their epitopes.