IMMUNOSTIMULATORY ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS LEAVES EXTRACT OF CASSIA OCCIDENTALIS ON INNATE AND ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE IN MICE

K M Hamid,N P F Umahi,A Isyaku,A B Usman,S Alkali,M U Kalgo,Mansur Aliyu,M Tijjani,H Abdullahi,A A Shehu

doi:10.33003/fjs-2020-0404-445

K M Hamid, N P F Umahi + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2020-0404-445

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Abstract

Different types of plants have been studied for their roles in immunostimulation and treatment of other diseases. The study aimed at evaluating the stimulatory activity of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis on innate and adaptive immune responses in mice. Study mice were grouped into five and studied for 21 days; group I (control group) received normal saline. While the treatment groups: group II - V received aqueous leaf extract of C. occidentalis at different concentrations (250, 500, 1000, and 1500) mg/kg body weight (BW). The mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) on day 13th and 18th of the treatment, respectively. On the 19th, 20th, and 21st days, the animals’ delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in each group were measured using a digital Vernier calliper, and humoral immune response was evaluated using the haemagglutination (HA) antibody technique. Blood samples were collected for Carbonic particle clearance index (K) and phagocytic index of Macrophage (α). Organ weight index (g/100g) was also recorded (α). The result showed a significant increase in the Carbonic particle clearance index (p=0.02) and phagocytic index of Macrophage (p<0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner. The study revealed a statistically significant difference in HA titres across the five groups, (p=0.02), also the DTH shows a statistically significant difference across the time (24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours), Wilks’ Lambda = 0. 291, F = 15. 86, p = 0. 0001. The aqueous leaf extract of C. occidentalis has an immunostimulatory effect on innate and adaptive immunity.

Highlights

Plants have been in use for long as medicine in African subcontinents and have been an essential source of drugs, in traditional medicine (Bako et al, 2005; Sumalatha et al, 2012)
C. occidentalis is a medicinal herb commonly used in treating bacterial and fungal diseases (Ambasta, 1986). It is extensively used in the indigenous and folklore medicine system as an antidote of poisons, blood purifier, expectorant, antiinflammatory agent, and a remedy for the treatment of liver diseases (Emmanuel et al, 2010). It is one of such frequently used African medical plants; its species are found in large number all over regions (Saidu et al, 2011), and that has long been known among the natives of the coast of West Africa, in Nigeria and Ghana to be effective in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea which are mainly caused by micro-organisms (Omoregbe et al, 1996)
Our study aimed to provide vital information on the effects of aqueous leaf extract of C. occidentalis on macrophages’ phagocytic function, humoral immune response against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in mice

Summary

Introduction

Plants have been in use for long as medicine in African subcontinents and have been an essential source of drugs, in traditional medicine (Bako et al, 2005; Sumalatha et al, 2012). C. occidentalis is a medicinal herb commonly used in treating bacterial and fungal diseases (Ambasta, 1986) It is extensively used in the indigenous and folklore medicine system as an antidote of poisons, blood purifier, expectorant, antiinflammatory agent, and a remedy for the treatment of liver diseases (Emmanuel et al, 2010). It is one of such frequently used African medical plants; its species are found in large number all over regions (Saidu et al, 2011), and that has long been known among the natives of the coast of West Africa, in Nigeria and Ghana to be effective in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea which are mainly caused by micro-organisms (Omoregbe et al, 1996)

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