title: Immunomodulatory activity of Buchholzia coriacea seed methanol extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seeds of Buchholzia coriacea Engler (Capparaceae) are used in Eastern Nigeria to treat feverish conditions, and to treat malaria and sleeping sickness that cause fever.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study assesses the immunomodulatory activity of Buchholzia coriacea seed extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delayed hypersensitivity reaction, humoral antibody response and in-vivo leucocyte mobilization tests were assessed in three different experiments to determine the effect of the extract on immune response. Seventy-five (75) mice (25 mice per experiment) were used for the study and were each infected with 1.00 × 106trypanosomes intra-peritoneally. Groups A, B and C were given 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of the extract, respectively, group D received 7.5 mg/kg body weight of levamisole and group E was the control. Sheep RBCs were used as antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute toxicity tests did not cause clinical signs or death within 24 h post treatment at all the doses tested. The extract inhibited delayed hypersensitivity reaction by 20.9 and 20.8% at 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, while at 1000 mg/kg, the paw size increased (-101.9%) when compared with the control. The extract elevated the antibody titre from 1.60 ± 0.40 for control to 8.00 ± 3.58 for 500 mg/kg group. The extract increased in total leucocytes counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extract has a very wide safety margin and was able to improve immune response. The results of the present study showed that Buchholzia coriacea seed methanol extract possesses immunostimulatory activity on trypanosome-infected mice.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Nigeria , Nsukka , Nigeria.
authors.forename: James I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Eze
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Nigeria , Nsukka , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chioma F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ekelozie
authors.affiliation: a Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Nigeria , Nsukka , Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nwakego E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Nweze
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031483:Capparaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Delayed hypersensitivity reaction; antibody response; trypanosomosis