Abstract
In the present study we performed a comparative phytochemical analysis of the immunomodulating activities of the methanol leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre (MLEGS) in Swiss albino mice. The phytochemical screening conducted on MLEGS revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents, including saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. Immunomodulatory activities were determined by hemagglutination antibody (HA) titer and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) tests for determining specific and non-specific immune responses. Flow cytometric techniques were performed for the estimation of B lymphocytes (CD3 and CD19) and Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-? and IL-4). The response produced by oral administration of MLEGS elicited a significant reduction in a dose-related manner in the primary and secondary antibody response and DTH response. The response produced by oral administration of MLEGS elicited significant reduction in a dose-related manner in the primary and secondary antibody and DTH responses, with maximum reduction observed at 200 mg/kg-body wt. The maximal reductions in the production of CD3, CD19, IL-2, IFN-? and IL-4 were 31.59, 32.12, 29.51, 32.45 and 33.53%, respectively, at 200 mg/kg body weight. This study demonstrates that G. sylvestre exerts immunosuppressive effects on the components of the immune system of mice, and points to its significant immunomodulatory potential.
Highlights
The protection of our bodies against specific disease and pathogens is associated with the immune system (Agarwal and Singh, 1999)
Due to the severe side effects related to synthetic drugs, immunomodulation using herbal drugs can provide an alternative to conventional chemotherapy for a variety of diseases, especially when the host defense mechanism has to be activated under the conditions of an impaired immune response (Srikumar et al, 2006)
We examined the immunomodulatory activities of methanol leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre (MLEGS) by evaluating its effect on the hemagglutinating antibody, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, level of intracellular cytokines and its effect on lymphocyte immunophenotyping
Summary
The protection of our bodies against specific disease and pathogens is associated with the immune system (Agarwal and Singh, 1999). There are certain agents or compounds known as immunomodulators, which are capable of exerting pharmacological or biological effects on the immune system. The basic strategy underlying immunomodulation is to identify aspects of the host response that can be enhanced or suppressed in such a way as to augment or complement a desired immune response. Immunomodulators may be synthetic drugs or of herbal origin. Due to the severe side effects related to synthetic drugs, immunomodulation using herbal drugs can provide an alternative to conventional chemotherapy for a variety of diseases, especially when the host defense mechanism has to be activated under the conditions of an impaired immune response (Srikumar et al, 2006). Herbal drugs are affordable and less potent than synthetic prescription immunomodulators and are less likely to cause side effects. There is a need to search for plants with immunomodulatory activity to offer a novel approach for the treatment of infectious disease
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