title: Bauhinia tomentosa stimulates the immune system and scavenges free radical generation in vitro.
abstract: A methanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa was studied for its immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in BALB/c mice. Intraperitoneal administration of the extract significantly increased the total leukocyte account (10075 +/- 542 cells/cm2) on the 18th day, bone marrow cellularity (93.1 x 10(5) +/- 3.35 cells/femur), and alpha-esterase positive cells (1332 +/- 32 cells/4000 bone marrow cells) when compared with untreated control mice. The weights of lymphoid organs, such as spleen and thymus, also increased. An evaluation of the antioxidant activity of B. tomentosa revealed that the extract inhibited non-enzymic lipid peroxidation in mouse liver microsomes at all concentrations, with an IC50 value of 90 microg/ml. For nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, the IC50 of B. tomentosa was 65.0 microg/ml, indicating that B. tomentosa is a good antioxidant. The anti-inflammatory effect B. tomentosa also significantly reduced acute inflammation of the paw edema induced by carrageenan and formalin.
authors.affiliation: Department ofBiotechnology Karunya University Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: Robinson Emilin
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Renitta
authors.forename: Chandrasekharan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guruvayoorappan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D036481:Bauhinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005557:Formaldehyde; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D005557:Formaldehyde; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D002351:Carrageenan