Suppression of novel andrographolide derivatives on murine splenic T lymphocyte proliferation

Andrographolide (1) is a primary constituent of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees which is a Chinese herbal medicine possesses extensive pharmacological effects. In this paper, the effect of compound 1 and some 15-alkylidene substituted derivatives of andrographolide (2-13) on murine splenic T lymphocyte proliferation reaction were appraised using MTT assay. The results showed that most of 15-alkylidene substituted andrographolides appraised could exert potent immunosuppressant effects. Especially compound 5, the most potent among all the tested compounds at concentrations with no obvious cytotoxicity, significantly inhibited the proliferation of murine splenic T lymphocytes activated by Con A in a dose-dependent manner (1.56 mu mol/l-12.50 mu mol/l), by the most inhibition of 55.8%. Findings implied that suitable 15-alkylidene substituted andrographolides might possess some better pharmacology activity than 1.