title: Immunomodulatory effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil.
abstract: Immunomodulatory effects of neem oil were studied in mice. The animals were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with neem oil; control animals received the emulsifying agent with or without peanut oil. Peritoneal lavage, collected on subsequent days, showed a maximum number of leukocytic cells on day 3 following treatment with neem oil; peritoneal macrophages exhibited enhanced phagocytic activity and expression of MHC class-II antigens. Neem oil treatment also induced the production of gamma interferon. Spleen cells of neem oil-treated animals showed a significantly higher lymphocyte proliferative response to in vitro challenge with Con A or tetanus toxoid (TT) than that of the controls. Pre-treatment with neem oil, however, did not augment the anti-TT antibody response. The results of this study indicate that neem oil acts as a non-specific immunostimulant and that it selectively activates the cell-mediated immune (CMI) mechanisms to elicit an enhanced response to subsequent mitogenic or antigenic challenge.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Talwar
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005989:Glycerides; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; C002443:neem oil; D007371:Interferon-gamma