Immunopotentiating compounds from Tinospora cordifolia.

The active principles of Tinospora cordifolia a traditional Indian plant were found to possess anticomplementary and immunomodulatory activities. Syringin (TC-4) and cordiol (TC-7) inhibited the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes by guinea pig serum. The reduced immunohaemolysis was found to be due to inhibition of the C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway. However, higher concentrations showed constant inhibitory effects. The compounds also gave rise to significant increases in IgG antibodies in serum. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity were also dose-dependently enhanced. Macrophage activation was reported for cordioside (TC-2), cordiofolioside A (TC-5) and cordiol (TC-7) and this activation was more pronounced with increasing incubation times.