title: Immunomodulatory activity of petroleum ether extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anacyclus pyrethrum DC (Compositae) roots, commonly known as Pellitory root and locally as akarkara, are widely recognized in the Indian traditional systems of medicine, Ayurveda, as a 'rasayana', i.e. a plant with immunomodulatory properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of A. pyrethrum extract for its effect on normal and chemically suppressed immune systems in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Petroleum ether extract (PEE) of roots was tested at 50 and 100 mg/kg dose. The effect of both doses on total and differential leukocyte count, cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression, survival rate against Candida albicans infection, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, percentage neutrophil adhesion, and phagocytic activity were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PEE-treated rats were able to overcome cyclophosphamide-induced myelo-suppression as evidenced by the normalization of blood parameters. Survival rate of albino rats was improved in Candida albicans-infected animals by treatment with the extract (p <0.05). An increase in delayed type hypersensitivity response (DTH), percentage neutrophil adhesion, and in vivo phagocytosis by carbon clearance method was observed after treatment. Extract administration also increased the HA titer value and IgG antibodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunostimulant activity increased two-fold upon doubling the dosage of extract administered. While a significant (p <0.05) improvement was observed in the humoral component, a highly significant (p <0.01) effect was observed in the cellular components of the immunity evaluated. The results thus provide a basis for the use of A. pyrethrum as an adaptogen and immunomodulator in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mayank
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.forename: Nagendra Singh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dixit
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000473:Alkanes; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000473:Alkanes; D006397:Hematinics; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C004544:naphtha