Immunomodulatory effect of a proprietary polyherbal formulation on healthy participants: A single- blind, randomized, placebo- controlled, exploratory clinical study

Suresh Khadke; Poonam Gupte; Akanksha Mourya; Amit Yadav; Sarika Mane; Asavari Joshi; Madhavi Mahajan; Manisha Mishra; Supriya Bhalerao

doi:10.4103/picr.picr_100_22

Immunomodulatory effect of a proprietary polyherbal formulation on healthy participants: A single- blind, randomized, placebo- controlled, exploratory clinical study

Perspect Clin Res. 2023 Jul-Sep;14(3):130-138. doi: 10.4103/picr.picr_100_22. Epub 2023 May 22.

Authors

Suresh Khadke¹, Poonam Gupte¹, Akanksha Mourya¹, Amit Yadav¹, Sarika Mane¹, Asavari Joshi¹, Madhavi Mahajan², Manisha Mishra³, Supriya Bhalerao¹

Affiliations

¹ Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India.
² Department of Kayachikitsa, College of Ayurveda, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India.
³ Charak Pharma Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Context: Clinical study for immunity.

Aims: The present study aimed to assess the effect of proprietary polyherbal formulation (PPHF), labelled as Kofol immunity tablets (KIT) on innate and adaptive immune responses in healthy individuals, on the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic.

Settings and design: Single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory study in institutional setting.

Materials and methods: Post Ethics Committee permission, screened healthy individuals of either sex aged 18-35 years were randomized to PPHF/Placebo for 2 months. Major assessment variables included peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), questionnaire-based immune status, perceived stress, and quality of life (QOL) with immune-specific cell counts (CD4+, CD8+), cytokines (interferon gamma [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin 10 [IL-10]), and oxidative stress in red blood cells (RBCs) (malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase [GPx]), done at day 60.

Statistical analysis used: Mean ± standard deviation and paired/unpaired t-test for parametric data analysis while median (range) and Wilcoxon Rank sum test/Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric data analysis, were done. Categorical data was analyzed using Chi-square test. GraphPad InStat software, version 9 was used with p < 0.05, as the level of statistical significance.

Results: Of 52 recruited, 28 individuals completed the study. PPHF significantly increased PEFR, improved immune status along with QOL compared to baseline. It also decreased perceived stress from moderate and severe grade to mild. Serum IFN-γ levels remained almost constant post-PPHF treatment. PPHF significantly decreased MDA and increased GPx in RBCs. Significant decrease and increase in TNF-α and IL-10, respectively, were seen in PPHF group. The safety parameters post-PPHF treatment remained within normal reference ranges.

Conclusions: PPHF is an efficacious and safe formulation with immunomodulatory potential.

Keywords: CD4-CD8 counts; COVID; immunity; inflammation; oxidative stress; peak expiratory flow rate.