Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Ethnomedicine

Background:

• Medicinal plants are integral to Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for chronic infections and immunological disorders.
• Investigating the immunobiological activity of these traditional remedies is crucial for modern scientific validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of selected medicinal plants used in traditional Indian medicine.
• To determine the impact of plant extracts on key immune responses in a murine model.

Main Methods:

• Ethanolic extracts of medicinal plants were administered to mice.
• Immune responses assessed included delayed type hypersensitivity, humoral response to sheep red blood cells, skin allograft rejection, and reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity.

Main Results:

• Picrorhiza kurroa demonstrated potent immunostimulant properties, enhancing both cell-mediated and humoral immunity.
• Tylophora indica, Aconitum heterophyllum, and Holarrhena antidysenterica stimulated phagocytic activity but inhibited humoral immunity.
• Tinospora cordifolia and Ocimum gratissimum enhanced phagocytic function without altering humoral or cell-mediated immunity.
• Hemidesmus indicus suppressed both cell-mediated and humoral immune components.

Conclusions:

• Several traditional medicinal plants exhibit significant immunomodulatory effects.
• Picrorhiza kurroa is a promising immunostimulant, while others like Hemidesmus indicus show immunosuppressive properties, warranting further investigation for therapeutic applications.