Efficacy and side effects studies of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves ethanol extract in pristane-induced SLE BALB/c mice model

The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves ethanol extract in pristane-induce systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) BALB/c mice model. Forty female BALB/c mice, aged 6-8 weeks old received a single i.p. injection of 0.5 cc pristane for lupus induction. 16 weeks after injection, pristane-induced lupus mice were divided into four groups based on the doses of Bryophyllum pinnatum received intragastrically: 0, 10.5 mg/kg/, 21 mg/kg/, and 42 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. At 38 weeks after injection, all mice were assessed for inflammation marker. Side effects study results suggest that there were no signs of side effects generally. No significant changes of blood pressure, liver and mice renal function were observed. The efficacy study showed that percentages of matured B cells, TNF-α, CRP, IL-17, and IL-12 decreased (p<0.05) and percentages of TGF-β and complement C3 and C4 increased (p>0.05) in Bryophyllum pinnatum treated mice. Bryophyllum pinnatum crude extract has the potential to be further developed as a new, safe, and effective agent of delivery to modulate immune cells against pristane-induced SLE BALB/c mice.