IMMUNOSTIMULATORY POTENTIAL OF N-BUTANOLIC FRACTION OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF COSTUS SPECIOSUS KOEN. RHIZOME

The immunomodulatory potential of n-butanolic fraction of rhizome extract (hydroalcoholic) of Costus speciosus was evaluated. For this different models like estimation of serum Immunoglobulin level, carbon clearance test, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction and humoral antibody were used. In delayed type hypersensitivity reaction and humoral antibody titer , mice were immunized by injecting 20% sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) suspension in sub planter region of paw and intraperitonially, respectively. All the Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s test at *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001. Serum immunoglobulin level was raised from normal 58.4 ± 2.47 NTU up to 73.083 ± 2.367 and 147.416 ± 2.36 NTU in Low dose test extract (100 mg/kg) and High dose test extract (200 mg/kg) respectively. Phagocytic index of animals in control group was found to be 1.9 ± 0.196 and was raised upto 3.00 ± 0.067 and 4.77 ± 0.710 in Low dose test extract (100 mg/kg) and High dose test extract (200 mg/kg) respectively. In humoral antibody titer reaction button formation took place at 53.33± 6.76 and at 106.66 ± 13.49 in Low dose test extract (100 mg/kg) and High dose test extract (200 mg/kg) respectively. In Low dose test extract (100 mg/kg BW) there was increase in DTH response after 48 hours. In High dose test extract (200 mg/kg) there was significant increase in DTH reaction after 24 and 48 hours. This study showed that n-butanolic fraction of hydroalcoholic extract of Costus speciosus Koen rhizome possessed immunostimulatory activity.