EVALUATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF POLYSACCHRIDE FRACTION OF INULA RACEMOSA, BOMBAX CEIBA AND ALLIUM SATIVUM

Inula racemosa, Bombax ceiba and Allium sativum are important class of drug known as “Rasayana”. The Polysaccharide fraction of all the three Drugs was isolated from hot water extraction yielding about 50-60% of fructan fraction (Polysaccharide). The polysaccharide fraction was evaluated for immunomodulatory activity by antibody titer and cellular immune response. The immunosuppressant drug azathioprine (100 mg/Kg/body weight) was used in order to evaluate the potency of immunomodulation of fructan fraction of rasayana drugs. The toxicological studies was made and a dose of 1000mg/Kg for Inula racemosa and Bombax ceiba and 1200mg/kg in case of Allium sativum was found to be not toxic. The non specific immunity determined by survival rate against Candida albicans infection was improved after treatment with fructan fraction. An increase in delayed type hypersensitivity response (DTH), % neutrophil adhesion and in vivo phagocytosis by carbon clearance method was observed after treatment with fructan fraction. The Immunostimulant activity of fructan fraction in dose of 200mg/kg of body weight was found to be more effective than 100mg/kg of body weight. The immunomodulation role of rasayana drugs is reported and established in several reported research but the present study claims the role of fructan fraction in immunomodulation