2-(Benzhydryl sulfinyl)-N-sec-butylacetamide isolated from fig fruits as a potential immune response modulator

The phagocytic activities of various immune cells can be enhanced by the use of medicinal preparations that can confer physiological homeostasis through the elimination of both pathogenic material and cells experiencing apoptosis. Nevertheless, studies on the achievement of this kind of reaction by the use of 2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)-N-sec-butylacetamide as a novel derivative are seldom. Hence, we assess herein the impacts of this novel compound on macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) involved in phagocytic activities as well as on the growth of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). A significant increase in both phagocytosis and bactericidal activities was observed, as indicated by the fact that E. coli was remarkably cleared in response to the treatment. In parallel, a highly significant increase (p < 0.0001) in the size of the cell, particularly the cytoplasm, was recorded. Additional analyses revealed that 2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)-N-sec-butylacetamide derived from fig significantly modulates the levels of the inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL) -2, IL-1ß, and IL-17 in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell culture supernatants. Taken together, 2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)-N-sec-butylacetamide could enhance the phagocytic activity of phagocytic cells through increasing the inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell size.