Immunomodulatory properties of Indian medicinal plants in Kolli hills: Stimulation and suppression of lymphocyte proliferation - In vitro

K. Perinbam¹, S. Arokiyaraj¹, Alex Mathew¹, O.S. Aysha², K. Balaraju³ and P. Agastian³

¹PG and Research, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sathyabama University, Chennai - 119 India.

²Elite Bioscience Foundation, Chennai - 119 India.

³Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Loyola College, Chennai - 34 India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: sistperinbam@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of four Indian medicinal plants. Solanum nigrum, Indigofera tinctoria, Euphorbia hirta and Azima tetracantha were tested for stimulation and inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation via lymphocyte proliferation assay by 3H thymidine uptake. RT-PCR was investigated to detect in vitro induction of cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-g for all the extracts. Among the plants tested Azima tetracantha (100 μg/ml) showed the highest rate of lymphocyte proliferation (76%), Indigofera tinctoria (100 μg/ml) showed maximum inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation (70%). A. tetracantha and S. nigrum showed IFN- g induction while I. tinctoria and A. tetracantha showed IL-4 induction. This in vitro study suggests that A. tetracantha and I. tinctoria are potent to have immunomodulatory agents.

KEYWORDS: Immunomodulation; Lymphocyte proliferation; RT-PCR; Vero cell

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