title: Immunomodulatory activity of the aqueous extract of seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn (Jequirity) in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various compounds of plant origin have been widely investigated since ancient times for their possible immunomodulatory properties as well as for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the immunomodulatory functions of the aqueous extract of the seeds of Abrus precatorius commonly known as Indian liquorice (Fabaceae), a medicinal plant native to central India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally treated with three doses (0.75, 1.25 and 2.5 µg/kg b.w.) of extract for 7 days. Relative organ weight, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, haemagglutination titre (HT) and Phagocytic index (PI) were studied in various groups of animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed no significant difference in relative organ weight of spleen, liver, thymus and kidney in various groups of animals. Treatment of rats with increasing concentrations of the extract decreased the footpad thickness indicating a dose related inhibitory effect of the extract on delayed type hypersensitivity. In the HT test, the plant extract showed a suppressive effect at all doses, and these changes were significant as the dose increased. Phagocytic index was also increased in a dose dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of antibody titre, delayed type hypersensitivity response and the increase in phagocytic index indicates that Abrus precatorius has an inhibitory effect on the immune functions in mice.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, India. anita_tilwari@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tilwari
authors.forename: Narmada Prasad
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Uma Devi
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Pathirissery
mesh_terms: D029912:Abrus / Q000276:immunology*; D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007194:India; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts