title: Immunomodulatory potential of Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal, a traditional medicinal plant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Enicostema axillare (Lam.) A. Raynal., (Gentianaceae) has been used in traditional Indian system of medicine as depurative and for the treatment of psoriasis, intermittent fever and cancer. Ethnobotanical survey conducted in Theni District indicated a high consensus for this plant as blood purifier and to treat dermatopathy and venereal infections. The present study evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of the methanol extract of Enicostema axillare.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo immunomodulatory activity of Enicostema axillare methanol extract (100 and 200mg/kg b.w) was evaluated by assessing its effect on the total and differential leukocyte count, organ weight, hemaggultinating antibody titer, plaque forming cells, quantitative hemolysis of SRBC and delayed type hypersensitivity. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC, 5×10(8)cells/0.1mL) were used to immunize the animals. In vitro immunomodulatory potential of the extract was studied using peritoneal macrophages by evaluating its effects on NBT reduction, NO production and cytokine release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The animals treated with Enicostema axillare methanol extract showed a significant (P≤0.05) increase in weight of the thymus and spleen. The total leukocyte and lymphocyte count was increased significantly (P<0.005) by the treatment. There was no significant alteration in neutrophil count. A dose dependent increase in antibody titer value was observed. A decreased response to DTH reaction induced by SRBC was recorded. A potential phagocytic response was seen on treatment with the extracts at 10 and 25μg/mL. The extract inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and production of NO significantly in a dose dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that the methanol extract of Enicostema axillare acted on both humoral and cell mediated immune functions and decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the peritoneal macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ethnopharmacology, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai-600 034, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prakash Babu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandikumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karunai Raj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabriel Paulraj
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ignacimuthu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D029965:Gentianaceae; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide