EVALUATION OF THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF THE ROOTS OF ICHNOCARPUS FRUTESCENS

The objective of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of the roots of Ichnocarpus frutescents R.Br. In the present study Pet. Ether, Chloroform and Methanolic fractions of the ethanolic extract of the roots of Ichnocarpus frutescens, in the doses of 10mg/kg and 30mg/kg, were administered orally to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity. The Methanolic fraction in the dose of 30mg/kg showed most significant effect when compared with control group, in the E.Coli induced abdominal sepsis and Carbon Clearence Test as models for non-specific immune response. In the models of the Specific immune response, in cell mediated immune response to SRBC – delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) the Methanolic fraction in the dose 30 mg/kg showed most significant effect on decrease in footpad edema after treatment when compared with control group. Humoral immune response was assessed by Sheep erythrocyte agglutination test, in which the Methanolic fraction of IF 30mg/kg showed most significant (p<0.05) increase in antibody titer after treatment when compared with control group. The present investigation reveals that the Methanolic fraction of the ethanolic extract of the roots of Ichnocarpus frutescens, in the dose of 30mg/kg possesses most significant immunomodulatory activity