Inhibitory activity of Jatropha multifida latex on classical complement pathway activity in human serum mediated by a calcium-binding proanthocyanidin.

This study isolates and characterizes the anti-complement constituent(s) present in the latex of Jatropha multifida, in an attempt to explain the traditional application of the latex in the treatment of infected wounds. Guided by the inhibition of classical pathway (CP) complement activity in human serum, a polymer was isolated which could be characterized as a proanthocyanidin. The polymer inhibits CP activation of the complement cascade, while alternative pathway (AP) activation is relatively insensitive to the polymer. This is due to the selective depletion of Ca2+, but not Mg2+, from the incubation medium.