title: Evaluation of immunomodulatory potential of Ocimum sanctum seed oil and its possible mechanism of action.
abstract: The present study investigates the effect of Ocimum sanctum seed oil (OSSO) on some immunological parameters in both non-stressed and stressed animals. An attempt has also been made to explore the possible mechanism of immunomodulatory activity. OSSO (3 ml/kg, ip) produced a significant increase in anti-sheep red blood cells (SRBC) antibody titre and a decrease in percentage histamine release from peritoneal mast cells of sensitized rats (humoral immune responses), and decrease in footpad thickness and percentage leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) (cell-mediated immune responses). Restraint stress (RS) produced a significant reduction in the anti-SRBC antibody titre, foot pad thickness and percentage LMI (% LMI). The effects of RS on humoral as well as cell-mediated immune responses were effectively attenuated by pretreating the animals with OSSO. Co-administration of diazepam (1 mg/kg, sc), a benzodiazepine (BZD), with OSSO (1 ml/kg, ip) enhanced the effect of OSSO on RS-induced changes in both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Further, flumazenil (5 mg/kg, ip), a central BZD receptor antagonist inhibited the immunomodulatory action of OSSO on RS-induced immune responsiveness. Thus, OSSO appears to modulate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responsiveness and these immunomodulatory effects may be mediated by GABAergic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, 110095, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mediratta
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Surender
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D018649:Ocimum basilicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018757:GABA Modulators; D010938:Plant Oils; D005442:Flumazenil; D003975:Diazepam