Condensed tannins from Botswanan forage plants are effective priming agents of γδ T cells in ruminants

The potential impact of extracts from forage plants on γδ T cell activity in ruminants was evaluated using an in vitro immunoassay. This study investigated whether plant extracts could prime γδ T cells via up-regulation of CD25 (interleukin-2 receptor alpha). Purified Sephadex LH-20 fractions, isolated from Viscum rotundifolium, Viscum verrucosum, Tapinanthus oleifolius and Grewia flava, were screened against γδ T cells on kid, lamb and calf peripheral blood lymphocytes. Condensed tannins (CT) from G. flava significantly primed γδ T cells in kids up to 64.75% at 10 μg/mL, which was statistically significant relative to the negative control at 22.66% (p = 0.004). CT from T. oleifolius also induced priming of γδ T cells in kids, while fractions from V. rotundifolium and V. verrucosum induced minimal priming of γδ T cells. In contrast, there was no significant priming of γδ T cells from lambs and calves for any of the tested fractions (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that CT from a selected range of Botswanan forage plants can stimulate the immune system in vivo in selected ruminant species and may participate in enhancing host innate immune responses.