Spleen Extract
OTHER NAME(S): Bovine Spleen, Concentré de Rate, Extrait de Rate, Extrait de Rate Hydrolysé, Extrait Splénique, Extrait Splénique Prédigéré, Facteurs Spléniques, Hydrolyzed Spleen Extract, Predigested Spleen Extract, Rate Bovine, Rate Crue, Raw Spleen, Spleen, Spleen Concentrate, Spleen Factors, Spleen Peptides, Spleen Polypeptides, Splenopentin, Tuftsin, None., Extracto de Bazo, Extrait De Rate
Overview
The spleen is an organ in people and animals. Its main jobs are to break down and remove old and damaged red blood cells and to provide some white blood cells to fight infection. Spleen extract is produced from animal spleens and is used as medicine.
People use spleen extract for conditions such low white blood cell counts, cancer, autoimmune diseases, infections, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Spleen extract contains ingredients that are thought to stimulate the immune system.
Spleen extract contains ingredients that are thought to stimulate the immune system.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Replacement therapy in cases where the spleen has been removed or isn't working well.
- Infections.
- Boosting the immune system.
- Celiac disease.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- A skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Kidney disease.
- A blood disorder called thrombocytopenia.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- A blood vessel disorder called vasculitis.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of spleen extract for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: It is not known if spleen extract is safe or what the side effects might be. There is some concern about contamination of spleen extract from sick or diseased animals. In particular, there is concern that spleen extract might cause bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) due to contamination if obtained in countries where BSE has been reported. While this side effect hasn't been reported in humans, it's best to avoid using spleen extract from countries where BSE has been reported.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: It is not known if spleen extract is safe or what the side effects might be. There is some concern about contamination of spleen extract from sick or diseased animals. In particular, there is concern that spleen extract might cause bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) due to contamination if obtained in countries where BSE has been reported. While this side effect hasn't been reported in humans, it's best to avoid using spleen extract from countries where BSE has been reported.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if spleen extract is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Spleen extract overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of spleen extract depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for spleen extract. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
- Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1996.
- Fridkin M, Najjar VA. Tuftsin: its chemistry, biology, and clinical potential. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 1989;24:1-40.
- Volk HD, Eckert R, Diamantstein T, Schmitz H. [Immunorestitutive action of hydrolysates and ultrafiltrates of bovine spleen]. Arzneimittelforschung 1991;41:1281-5.
- Corazza GR, Zoli G, Ginaldi L, et al. Tuftsin deficiency in AIDS. Lancet 1991;337:12-3.
- Agrawal, A. K. and Gupta, C. M. Tuftsin-bearing liposomes in treatment of macrophage-based infections. Adv.Drug Deliv.Rev. 3-30-2000;41(2):135-146.
- Naim, J. O., Lanzafame, R. J., and van Oss, C. J. The effect of anti-tuftsin antibody on the phagocytosis of bacteria by human neutrophils. Immunol.Invest 1991;20(5-6):499-506.
- Spirer, Z., Zakuth, V., Tzehoval, E., Dagan, S., Fridkin, M., Golander, A., and Melamed, I. Tuftsin stimulates IL-1 production by human mononuclear cells, human spleen cells and mouse spleen cells in vitro. J.Clin.Lab Immunol. 1989;28(1):27-31.
- Mathe, G. Do tuftsin and bestatin constitute a biopharmacological immunoregulatory system? Cancer Detect.Prev.Suppl 1987;1:445-455.
- Nishioka, K. Migration enhancement by tuftsin of human mononuclear cells and its effect on the migration inhibition factor test with tumor antigens. Gann 1978;69(4):569-572.
- Nishioka, K., Amoscato, A. A., and Babcock, G. F. Tuftsin: a hormone-like tetrapeptide with antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Life Sci. 3-9-1981;28(10):1081-1090.
- Najjar, V. A. Tuftsin, a natural activator of phagocyte cells: an overview. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1983;419:1-11.
- Nishioka, K., Wagle, J. R., Rodriguez, T., Jr., Maeta, M., Kubo, S., and Dessens, S. E. Studies of human granulocyte phagocytosis stimulation by tuftsin. J.Surg.Res. 1994;56(1):94-101.
- Kubo, S., Roh, M. S., Oyedeji, C., Romsdahl, M. M., and Nishioka, K. Effect of tuftsin on human Kupffer cell. Hepatogastroenterology 1998;45(24):2270-2274.