Biological effects of aqueous extract from Turkey vulture Cathartes aura (Cathartidae) meat

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cathartes aura is a bird used in the Mexican traditional medicine for the empirical treatment of cancer, injuries, infections and burns. Materials and methods: The in vitro immunomodulatory effects of Cathartes aura extract (CAE) were evaluated estimating its effects on proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and murine splenocytes. The effects of CAE (1-200 mu g/m) on NO production, pinocytosis and lysosomal enzyme activity were assayed in murine macrophages RAW 264.7. The cytotoxic effects of CAE (1-500 mu g/ml) on tumorigenic and non tumorigenic cells were evaluated using the MTT assay. Results: In the absence of LPS, CAE induced the proliferation of murine splenocytes (119%), enhanced the pinocytosis (113%) and lysosomal enzyme activity (141%) in murine macrophages with a similar potency than lypopolisaccharides 1 mu g/ml. In addition, CAE exerted cytotoxic effects mainly on human cervical cancer cells (IC50=117 mu g/ml) but lacked toxic effects on non tumorigenic cells (IC50 > 500 mu g/ml). Conclusion: Cathartes aura exerts immunostimulatory and cytotoxic activities (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.