Abstract

EFFECTS OF EUPATORIUM ADENOPHORUM LEAF EXTRACT ON HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE IN MICE

Y. Damodar Singh*

ABSTRACT

Fifty apparently healthy male albino mice (25-30 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 animals each. Groups I and II served as vehicle (5% tween 80) and positive control (cyclophosphamide @ 25 mg/kg, orally) respectively. The remaining groups (III-V) received methanolic extract of E. adenophorum (MEA) @ 1/20th, 1/10th and 1/5th of ALD50 orally daily for 14 days before immunization and continued till the experiment was over. The positive control as well as the MEA-treated mice @ 175, 350 and 700 mg/kg did not produce any significant changes in the globulin and A/G ratios in primary immune response, whereas a marked reduction of A/G ratio was observed in the cyclophosphamide and MEA-treated mice @ 350 and 700 mg/kg in secondary immune response. Both the cyclophosphamide and MEA-treated mice @ 700 mg/kg showed significant reductions in total proteins and albumin in both primary and secondary immune responses, while animals receiving MEA @ 350 mg/kg had marked decrease in total proteins and albumin in secondary immune response. Cyclophosphamide-treated animals exhibited significant reduction in absolute and relative spleen weights after 20 and 30 days exposure for primary and secondary immune responses; respectively, while MEA at dose levels of 175 and 350 mg/kg did not cause any significant change in relative spleen weight. However, the dose level of MEA @ 700 mg/kg showed marginal reduction in relative spleen weight following 20 and 30 days of exposure. The higher doses of MEA (350 and 700 mg/kg) did not produce any significant change of the antibody (IgM) titer in the primary humoral immune response, while the lowest dose (175 mg/kg) showed a marginal increase of IgM titer. The highest dose of MEA (700 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction of antibody (IgG) titer in the secondaryhumoral immune response, while the lower doses (175 and 350 mg/kg) showed marginal increase and decrease of IgG; respectively. The present study suggests that the highest dose of MEA (700 mg/kg) might probably be having some immune-suppressant effects on the primary (IgM) and secondary (IgG) immune responses of mice.

Keywords: Eupatorium adenophorum; humoral immune response; mice.