Achyranthes aspera stimulates the immunity and enhances the antigen clearance in Catla catla.
Achyranthes aspera, an Indian medicinal plant (family: Amaranthaceae) was incorporated in artificial fish diet, and fed to catla Catla catla. After 4 weeks of feeding, fish were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA), spleen and blood were sampled on weekly intervals for four times after immunization. Antigen-specific antibody level in serum was determined by ELISA. Antigen clearance was determined in spleen by immuno-electron microscopy. Achyranthes has significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the BSA-specific antibody titers than the untreated control group throughout the study period. The efficiency of antigen clearance was also enhanced in C. catla treated with Achyranthes.
Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi--110 007, India. rina@ndf.vsnl.net.in
Rina
R
Chakrabarti
Rao Y
RY
Vasudeva
D029044:Achyranthes / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002347:Carps; D002417:Cattle; D007114:Immunization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000941:Antigens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine