In vivo antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect of the aqueous extract of Mimela sp. on cyclophosphamide induced immunocompromised mice

Abstract

Insect and their products have been used as an integral part of local therapies around the globe since decades. Several studies on insects have found it to be highly nutritious and rich in several bioactive compounds possibly attributing to its anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic and immune regulating properties. Mimela sp. is a small shiny green beetle highly preferred as food by the people of Arunachal Pradesh and is known to be therapeutically used in other regions. The Immunomodulatory effect of the aqueous extract of Mimela sp. was investigated in the present study on albino mice. The female mice were randomly divided into normal control, model control, low dose (500mg/kg), medium dose (1000mg/kg) and high dose (2000mg/kg) group. The mice in the dosage groups were fed with extract via oral gavage once a day for 14 days. The mice body weight, spleen and thymus indexes, RBC, WBC and HGB were measured. The oxidative stress parameter like lipid peroxidation, glutathione level and catalase activity were evaluated. Tissue morphology of spleen and thymus was observed. Delayed type hypersensitivity response, hemagglutination titer cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured. The results show significant increase in immune organ weight, leukocyte count, mice footpad volume, antibody formation and cytokine level. Enzymatic and non- enzymatic antioxidant levels were also increased. Further histomorphological observation showed improvement in numbers of immune cells mainly lymphocytes. Thus, suggesting that the aqueous extract of Mimela sp. have antioxidant and immunodulatory potentials.