Phagocytosis Health Dictionary

A localised collection of pus. A minute abscess is known as a PUSTULE; a di?used production of pus is known as CELLULITIS or ERYSIPELAS. An abscess may be acute or chronic. An acute abscess is one which develops rapidly within the course of a few days or hours. It is characterised by a de?nite set of symptoms.

Causes The direct cause is various BACTERIA. Sometimes the presence of foreign bodies, such as bullets or splinters, may produce an abscess, but these foreign bodies may remain buried in the tissues without causing any trouble provided that they are not contaminated by bacteria or other micro-organisms.

The micro-organisms most frequently found are staphylococci (see STAPHYLOCOCCUS), and, next to these, streptococci (see STREPTOCOCCUS) – though the latter cause more virulent abscesses. Other abscess-forming organisms are Pseudomonas pyocyanea and Escherichia coli, which live always in the bowels and under certain conditions wander into the surrounding tissues, producing abscesses.

The presence of micro-organisms is not suf?cient in itself to produce suppuration (see IMMUNITY; INFECTION); streptococci can often be found on the skin and in the skin glands of perfectly healthy individuals. Whether they will produce abscesses or not depends upon the virulence of the organism and the individual’s natural resistance.

When bacteria have gained access – for example, to a wound – they rapidly multiply, produce toxins, and cause local dilatation of the blood vessels, slowing of the bloodstream, and exudation of blood corpuscles and ?uid. The LEUCOCYTES, or white corpuscles of the blood, collect around the invaded area and destroy the bacteria either by consuming them (see PHAGOCYTOSIS) or by forming a toxin that kills them. If the body’s local defence mechanisms fail to do this, the abscess will spread and may in severe cases cause generalised infection or SEPTICAEMIA.

Symptoms The classic symptoms of in?ammation are redness, warmth, swelling, pain and fever. The neighbouring lymph nodes may be swollen and tender in an attempt to stop the bacteria spreading to other parts of the body. Infection also causes an increase in the number of leucocytes in the blood (see LEUCOCYTOSIS). Immediately the abscess is opened, or bursts, the pain disappears, the temperature falls rapidly to normal, and healing proceeds. If, however, the abscess discharges into an internal cavity such as the bowel or bladder, it may heal slowly or become chronic, resulting in the patient’s ill-health.

Treatment Most local infections of the skin respond to ANTIBIOTICS. If pus forms, the abscess should be surgically opened and drained.

Abscesses can occur in any tissue in the body, but the principles of treatment are broadly the same: use of an antibiotic and, where appropriate, surgery.... abscess

Linn.

Family: Malvaceae.

Habitat: Native to eastern Europe; found in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

English: Marshmallow, Hollyhock.

Unani: Khatmi, Gul-Khairu (also equated with Althaea rosea Linn.).

Siddha/Tamil: Shemai-tutti.

Action: Demulcent, emollient, antitussive (used for cough, bronchitis, gastritis, enteritis and cystitis), antilithic, diuretic.

Key application: (leaf and root) In irritation ofthe oral and pharyngeal mucosa and associated dry cough; in mild inflammation of the gastric mucosa. (German Commission E, ESCOP.) As demulcent. (The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) In gastroenteritis, peptic and duodenal ulceration, common and ulcerative colitis. (The British Herbal Compendium.) Topically for varicose veins, skin ulcers, abscesses, cuts, burns.

Althaea rosea (L.) Cav., synonym Al- cea rosea L., Hollyhock flower, is used as mucilage for prophylaxis and therapy of diseases and discomforts of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract and for urinary complaints. (It is included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.)

The root contains starch, mucilage, pectin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, sucrose, tannins and asparagines. Mucilage (18-35%) consists of a number of polysaccharides. Flavonoids include kaempferol, quercetin and diosmetin glucosides. Polyphenolic acids include syringic, caffeic, salcyclic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids.

The mucilages have proven biological activity including stimulation of phagocytosis in vitro.

The root counters excess stomach acid, peptic ulceration and gastritis.... althaea officinalis

An agent that experimentally inhibits the proliferation and viability of infectious viruses. In our domain of herbal medicines, some plants will slow or inhibit the adsorption or random initial attachment of viruses, extend the lifespan of infected target cells, or speed up several aspects of immunity, including complement, antibody, and phagocytosis responses. Herbal antivirals work best on respiratory viruses such as influenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, and the enteric echoviruses. Touted as useful in the alphabet group of slow viruses (HIV, EBV, CMV, etc.), they really help to limit secondary concurrent respiratory infections that often accompany immunosuppression.... antiviral

Pus is a thick, white, yellow or greenish ?uid, found in abscesses (see ABSCESS), ulcers, and on in?amed and discharging surfaces generally. Its colour and consistency are due to the presence of white blood corpuscles, and super?cial cells of granulation tissue or of a mucous membrane which die and are shed o? in consequence of the in?ammatory process (see PHAGOCYTOSIS). Bacteria that normally produce pus are STREPTOCOCCUS, PNEUMOCOCCUS and ESCHERICHIA coli.... pus

The process of PUS formation. When pus forms on a raw surface the process is called ulceration, whilst a deep-seated collection of pus is known as an ABSCESS. (See also INFLAMMATION; PHAGOCYTOSIS; ULCER; WOUNDS.)... suppuration

n. the intake of small droplets of fluid by a cell by cytoplasmic engulfment. It occurs in many white blood cells and in certain kidney and liver cells. Compare phagocytosis.... pinocytosis

n. a tetrapeptide derived from IgG (see immunoglobulin), produced mainly in the spleen, that stimulates *neutrophil activity (phagocytosis). Levels of tuftsin are reduced after *splenectomy, resulting in diminished resistance to infection, especially by encapsulated organisms.... tuftsin

Wall. ex Nees

Family: Acanthaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, from Himachal Pradesh to Assam and Mizoram, and all over southern India.

English: Creat.

Ayurvedic: Kaalmegha, Bhuunimba, Bhuuminimbaka, Vishwambharaa, Yavtikta, Kalpanaatha, Kiraata-tikta (var.).

Unani: Kiryaat.

Siddha/Tamil: Nilavembu.

Action: Hepatoprotective, cholin- ergic, antispasmodic, stomachic, anthelmintic, alterative, blood purifier, febrifuge. It acts well on the liver, promoting secretion of bile. Used in jaundice and torpid liver, flatulence and diarrhoea of children, colic, strangulation of intestines and splenomegaly; also for cold and upper respiratory tract infections.

Key application: As bitter tonic, febrifuge and hepatoprotective. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

Kaalmegha, officinal in IP, consists of dried leaves and tender shoots, which yield not less than 1% andro- grapholide on dry-weight basis.

Several active constituents have been identified from the leaf and rhizome, including andrographolide, deoxyan- drographolide and other diterpenes.

Andrographolide exhibited strong choleretic action when administered i.p. to rats. It induces increase in bile flow together with change in physical properties of bile secretion. It was found to be more potent than sily- marin.

Andrographolide was found to be almost devoid of antihepatitis-B virus surface antigen-like activity (when compared with picroliv.)

The leaf and stem extracts of Kaal- megha/andrographolide given s.c. or orally did not change blood sugar level of normal or diabetic rats.

Alcoholic extract of the plant exhibited antidiarrhoeal activity against E. coli enterotoxins in animal models.

Clinical evidence of effectiveness of andrographis in humans is limited to the common cold. Preliminary evidence suggests that it might increase antibody activity and phagocytosis by macrophages, and might have mast cell-stabilizing and antiallergy activity. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

The herb is contraindicated inbleed- ing disorders, hypotension, as well as male and female sterility (exhibited infertility in laboratory animals).

Dosage: Whole plant—5-10 ml juice; 50-100 ml decotion; 1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)... andrographis panicultata

Linn.

Family: Aristolochiaceae. English: European Birthwort. Unani: Zaraawand Taweel.

Action: Oxytocic, abortifacient, emmenagogue.

Aristolochic acid and its Me es- ter—strongly abortifacient, showed damage to liver and kidney. Roots— anti-oestrogenic. A cytotoxic lignan, savinin, has been isolated from the roots.

Aristolochic acid also has an effect against adenosarcoma and HeLa cells in culture; however, it is suspected to be carcinogenic.

Aristolochia extracts show a pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis by leucocytes, granulocytes and peritoneal macrophages, due to the presence of aristolochic acids.

Tardolyt-coated tablets, which contain 0.3 mg of aristolochic acid, increase phagocytosis in healthy men.

Aristolochic acid also exhibits reduction of some of the toxic effects of prednisolone, chloramphenicol and tetracycline in experiments in vitro, and a reduction in the rate of recurrent herpes lesions in vivo.... aristolochia longa

Labill.

Family: Fabaceae; Papilionaceae.

Habitat: Highlands of Asia Minor, Iran, Greece, Syria and Russia.

English: Tragacanth Gum.

Unani: Katiraa, Kataad (Gum)

Action: Demulcent, emollient (used for irritation of the internal mucosa, colitis, dry coughs), laxative. Mucilage used as an application to burns.

The gum contains polysaccharides and proteinaceous polysaccharides.

Tragacanthin is water-soluble, consisting of an arbinogalactan and traga- canthic acid. Bassorin is an insoluble methylated fraction (gel). The polysac- charides have been shown to have im- munostimulating activity (stimulation of phagocytosis and an increase in plasma cell counts of T-lymphocytes.

Although tragacanth increases weight of stool and decreases gastrointestinal transit time, it does not appear to affect cholesterol triglyceride or phospholipid levels as other soluble fibres do. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Tragacanth has been shown to be active against a variety of tumours. It appears to inhibit growth of cancer cells.... astragalus gummifer

Wall.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh. Cultivated commercially in China.

Ayurvedic: Mamira, Maamiraa, Tiktamuulaa. (Pita-muulikaa and Hem-tantu are provisional synonyms.)

Unani: Maamisaa, Maamiraa.

Folk: Titaa (Bengal and Assam).

Action: Stomachic, antiperiodic, antibacterial, antifungal. Prescribed in debility, convalescence, intermittent fevers, dyspepsia, dysentery and intestinal catarrh. Used as a local application in thrush.

The rhizomes contains berberine (9%) as the major alkaloid; other alkaloids present are: coptin (0.08%), cop- tisin 0.02%) and jatrorrhizine (0.01%). Samples from China contained 9.2612.23% berberine, 2.39-3.25% coptisin and 3.20-4.46% jatrorrhizine. In China, the herb is used as an antidiabetic; the ethanolic (50%) extract exhibited hypoglycaemic and hypotensive activity.

The drug due to berberine and its related alkaloids promoted reticuloen- dothelium to increased phagocytosis of leucocytes in dog blood in vitro and in vivo.

Coptis chinensis (Huang Lian) inhibited erythrocyte haemolysis, decreased lipid peroxidation in brain and kidney, decreased generation of superoxide peroxidation and decreased hy- droxyl radicals in rats. (Life Sci, 2000, 66(8), 725-735.)

Dosage: Root—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)... coptis teeta

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: The temperate Himalayas up to 3,600 m and in Khasi Hills between 1,000 and 2,000 m.

English: Hemp Agrimony, Water Hemp, Hemp Eupatorium.

Folk: Bundaar (Maharashtra), Tongollati (Assam).

Action: Diuretic, cathartic, anti-tumoral. Used under strict medical supervision for blood impurities and tumours. Internal administration is not advised unless the hepatotoxic alkaloids are shown to be absent from the sample.

The herb contains volatile oil (about 0.5%); sesqiterpene lactones, the major one being eupatoriopicrin; flavonoids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids; immunoactive polysaccharides.

Eupatoriopicrin has shown to be cy- tostatic as well as cytotoxic; it delayed transplanted tumour growth in mice in a dose-dependent manner.

An aqueous extract of the plant exhibited anti-necrotic activity against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepato- toxicity in rats. The effect is attributed to the presence of flavonoids, rutoside, hyperoside and quercetin; phenolic acids, caffeic and chlorogenic; and not due to the presence of eupatoriopicrin.

Acrylic acid and the lactic, malic and citric acids, present in the plant, also exhibited protective effect against acute toxicity induced by ethanol in mice.

The polysaccharides have immuno- stimulatory activity and enhance phagocytosis in a number of immunolog- ical tests. The leaf oil is reported to exhibit fungicidal effect.

A related species, Eupatorium odorum Linn., is known as Gondri in Ori- ssa.... eupatorium cannabinum

The scienti?c name for white blood cells. Leucocytes contain no HAEMOGLOBIN so are colourless, and have a well-formed NUCLEUS. Healthy people have around 8,000 leucocytes per cubic millimetre of blood. There are three main classes of white cells: granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes.

Granulocytes Also known as polymorphonuclear leucocytes (‘polys’), these normally constitute 70 per cent of the white blood cells. They are divided into three groups according to the staining reactions of these granules: neutrophils, which stain with neutral dyes and constitute 65–70 per cent of all the white blood cells; eosinophils, which stain with acid dyes (e.g. eosin) and constitute 3–4 per cent of the total white blood cells; and basophils, which stain with basic dyes (e.g. methylene blue) and constitute about 0·5 per cent of the total white blood cells.

Lymphocytes constitute 25–30 per cent of the white blood cells. They have a clear, non-granular cytoplasm and a relatively large nucleus which is only slightly indented. They are divided into two groups: small lymphocytes, which are slightly larger than erythrocytes (about 8 micrometres in diameter); and large lymphocytes, which are about 12 micrometres in diameter.

Monocytes Motile phagocytic cells that circulate in the blood and migrate into the tissues, where they develop into various forms of MACROPHAGE such as tissue macrophages and KUPFFER CELLS.

Site of origin The granulocytes are formed in the red BONE MARROW. The lymphocytes are formed predominantly in LYMPHOID TISSUE. There is some controversy as to the site of origin of monocytes: some say they arise from lymphocytes, whilst others contend that they are derived from histiocytes – i.e. the RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM.

Function The leucocytes constitute one of the most important of the defence mechanisms against infection. This applies particularly to the neutrophil leucocytes (see LEUCOCYTOSIS). (See also ABSCESS; BLOOD – Composition; INFLAMMATION; PHAGOCYTOSIS; WOUNDS.)... leucocytes

Linn.

Habitat: Native to Southern Europe and South-West Asia; grown in Indian gardens.

English: Madona Lily, Annunciation Lily, White Lily.

Action: Bulb—astringent, demulcent. Used for gynaecological disorders. A decoction of the bulbs in water or milk is given for dropsy; a poultice is applied to tumours, ulcers and skin inflammations. Fresh flowering plant is used in homoeopathy as an antispasmodic; the pollen is used against epilepsy

A total extract stimulates phagocytosis in mice. The bulbs contain alkaloids (pyrroline derivatives), jat- ropham, ethyljatropham and citracon- ic acid imides.

Mucous, tannin, sterine and gluco- side impart anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic and expectorant properties to the bulb.

Bulbs of Lilium species contain soluble polysaccharides (glucomannans), starch, gamma-methylene glutamic acid and tuliposide.... lilium candidum

Dry.

Family: Styraceae.

Habitat: Native to South-East Asia and East Indies.

English: True Gum Benzoin, Sumatra Benzoin or Gum Benjamin.

Unani: Lobaan.

Siddha/Tamil: Saambiraani.

Action: Gum—antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, expectorant (used for cough and respiratory tract catarrh). Used as genitourinary antiseptic, as a mouthwash in stomatitis, topically on wound and ulcers, as an inhalation in colds, coughs and bronchitis. Lipophilic fraction stimulates phagocytosis.

The gum contains mainly cinnamic, benzoic and sumaresinolic acid esters, benzaldehyde and vanillin.... styrax benzoin

n. a large glycoprotein that acts as a host defence mechanism. In the plasma it induces phagocytosis and on the cell surface it induces protein linkage which is important in the formation of new epithelium in wound healing. It is also involved in platelet aggregation. It is concentrated in connective tissue and the endothelium of the capillaries and is a component of the extracellular matrix. In pregnancy, fetal fibronectin (fFN) is found in high concentrations in secretions from the cervix and vagina before fusion of the membranes occurs at around 21 weeks of gestation. Inflammation or trauma to the fetal–maternal surface after then causes secretion of fFN into the cervix and vagina. Vaginal swabs that detect fFN can be used to predict preterm birth between 22 and 34 weeks gestation.... fibronectin