Tulika Mishra1, Aruna Bhatia. 1. Immunology and Immunotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala 147 002, Punjab, India.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was carried out to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lamk.) seed extract to ascertain the folkloric claim as immunomodulator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous-ethanolic seed extract (100-400 mg kg(-1)) of Z. mauritiana was investigated for immunomodulatory potential in mice. The extract was standardized with HPLC using betulinic acid as a marker. Functions of various immunocytes in the form of humoral (development of anti-SRBC (sheep red blood cells) antibody titers) and cell-mediated immune response (delayed type hypersensitivity, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and bactericidal activity) was studied in SRBC immunized mice. The cytokine, IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) and IL-4 (interleukin-4) secretion was also measured quantitatively by ELISA as the expression of functions of Th-1 and Th-2 respectively. Levamisole (2.5 mg kg(-1)) was used as standard drug. RESULTS: The seed extract demonstrated significant (P<0.05-0.001) up-regulation of cell-mediated, humoral immune response and Th-1 mediated cytokine IFN-gamma and decline in Th-2 mediated cytokine IL-4. At higher dose of extract the results were comparable to that of the levamisole. CONCLUSION: The immunostimulatory potential of this seed extract is likely to be mediated through its effect on macrophage function and Th-1 mediated immunity confirming the folkloric use of this plant. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was carried out to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lamk.) seed extract to ascertain the folkloric claim as immunomodulator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous-ethanolic seed extract (100-400 mg kg(-1)) of Z. mauritiana was investigated for immunomodulatory potential in mice. The extract was standardized with HPLC using betulinic acid as a marker. Functions of various immunocytes in the form of humoral (development of anti-SRBC (sheep red blood cells) antibody titers) and cell-mediated immune response (delayed type hypersensitivity,nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and bactericidal activity) was studied in SRBC immunized mice. The cytokine, IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) and IL-4 (interleukin-4) secretion was also measured quantitatively by ELISA as the expression of functions of Th-1 and Th-2 respectively. Levamisole (2.5 mg kg(-1)) was used as standard drug. RESULTS: The seed extract demonstrated significant (P<0.05-0.001) up-regulation of cell-mediated, humoral immune response and Th-1 mediated cytokine IFN-gamma and decline in Th-2 mediated cytokine IL-4. At higher dose of extract the results were comparable to that of the levamisole. CONCLUSION: The immunostimulatory potential of this seed extract is likely to be mediated through its effect on macrophage function and Th-1 mediated immunity confirming the folkloric use of this plant. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.