Immunomodulatory activity of methanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera in animals

Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2010 Apr-Jun;54(2):133-40.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory action of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MEMO) in an experimental model of immunity. The cellular immunity was evaluated using neutrophil adhesion test, cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia and carbon clearance assay, whereas, humoral immunity was tested by mice lethality test, serum immunoglobulin estimation and indirect haemagglutination assay in animals. Administration of MEMO (250 and 750 mg/kg, po) and Ocimum sanctum (100 mg/kg, po) significantly increased the levels of serum immunoglobulins and also prevented the mortality induced by bovine Pasteurella multocida in mice. They also increased significantly the circulating antibody titre in indirect haemagglunation test. Moreover, MEMO produced significant increase in adhesion of neutrophils, attenuation of cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia and an increase in phagocytic index in carbon clearance assay. From the above results, it can be concluded that MEMO stimulate both cellular and humoral immune response. However, low dose of MEMO was found to be more effective than the high dose.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hemagglutination / drug effects
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects*
  • Immunoglobulins / blood
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Immunologic Factors / toxicity
  • Methanol / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Moringa oleifera*
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / drug therapy
  • Neutropenia / immunology
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Ocimum
  • Pasteurella Infections / drug therapy
  • Pasteurella Infections / immunology
  • Pasteurella Infections / microbiology
  • Pasteurella multocida / pathogenicity
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Plant Leaves
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sheep
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Plant Extracts
  • Solvents
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Methanol