Immune Response Activation and Hepatoprotective Activity of <i>Randia echinocarpa</i> Soluble Melanins in Murine Models

This research demonstrates the in vivo immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective activities of the soluble melanins of the <i>Randia echinocarpa</i> fruit (PSM). The splenocyte cellular metabolic activity and lymphocyte T <i>γδ</i> expression in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and Peyer patches (PPs) were measured in the mice model. The PSM hepatoprotective activity was evaluated in the CCl₄-induced acute hepatotoxic injury (AHTI) in the rat model. Compared with the controls, the PSM treatment induced higher splenocyte cellular metabolic activity (in vitro, 24.1%-57.25%; in vivo, 28.8%-47.7%), activation of lymphocytes T <i>γδ</i> in MLN but suppression in PP. Related to in vivo hepatoprotective activity, PSM treatment reduces CCl₄-induced damage; animals showed lower levels of serum ALT (218.85-67.02 U/L) and ALP (453.37-355.47 U/L), higher levels of serum GSH (127.96-252.15 ng/mg of tissue), lower levels of hepatic MDA (10.25-7.85 nmol/mL), and less severe damage in the hepatic histopathology. These results suggest the nutraceutical and therapeutic potential of PSM.