Abstract
The continuous increase in resistance associated with conventional drugs is gradually shifting focus to herbal remedies as an alternative globally. This study was designed to investigate the immunostimulatory and antimicrobial claims of Super-7 herbal mixture (SHM) and Odogwu cleanser herbal mixture (OCHM) commercially available in Enugu State, Nigeria. Immunomodulatory properties of the products on the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity reaction (DTHr), the Primary and Secondary humoral response and the <i>in vivo</i> leucocyte mobilization were evaluated using a total of one hundred and forty-six (146) Swiss albino rats. The spectrum of antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar well diffusion method using eight (8) selected microorganisms. The LD<sub>50</sub> of both products was greater than 100% ml/kg body weight. OCHM elicited significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in total leucocyte and neutrophil counts compared to Levamisole (2.5mg/kg) and the untreated group. A 100% ml/kg SHM (78.07%) also exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher oedema inhibitory potentials compared to the standard drug (levamisole = 65.78%). Samples of SHM demonstrated dose dependent antibacterial activities against <i>B. subtilis </i>and <i>S. typhi</i>, while only exhibiting antifungal activity against<i> C. albicans </i>(IZD = 9.0±0.0 mm). OCHM was observed to inhibit <i>E. coli, S. typhi, S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. typhi </i>and the fungus<i> C. albicans</i>. An average bioload of 2.8 x 10<sup>4</sup>±1.0 CFU/ml which was higher than the average count (2.8 x 10<sup>4</sup>±1.0 CFU/ml) obtained for OCHM. Conclusively, this study showed that samples of SHM and OCHM exhibited significant immunostimulatory and antimicrobial properties, but also recorded the presence of microbial contaminants.
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