title: Immunomodulatory effects of NIM-76, a volatile fraction from Neem oil.
abstract: The immunomodulatory properties of NIM-76 have been described in this paper. Pre-treatment of rats with a single i.p. injection of NIM-76 resulted in an increase in polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes with a concomitant decrease in lymphocyte counts. The immunomodulatory activity of NIM-76 was found to be concentration-dependent. At 120 mg/kg body weight, there was an enhanced macrophage activity and lymphocyte proliferation response, while the humoral component of immunity was unaffected. At higher concentrations of NIM-76 (300 mg/kg body weight), there was a stimulation of mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, while macrophage activity remained unaffected. However, a fall in primary and secondary antibody titres was observed. The study indicates that NIM-76 acts through cell-mediated mechanisms by activating macrophages and lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Timarpur, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: SaiRam
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ilavazhagan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Selvamurthy
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005989:Glycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012756:Sheep; D013729:Terpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C095602:DK 1; D005989:Glycerides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; C002443:neem oil