Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of I. tinctoria on Wistar albino rat immune cells function in vitro. We examined the macrophage activation and lymphocyte proliferation and found that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts were potentially enhanced the peritoneal macrophage activation and peripheral blood lymphocytes proliferation in a dose dependent manner. In macrophage activation, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of I. tinctoria enhance the Nitric Oxide (NO) production to 82�±5.0 �¼mol/ml and 73�±2.0 �¼mol/ml at 100 �¼g per ml and suppress the arginase activity to 0.85 U/ml and 1.0 U/ml at concentration of 100 �¼g/ml. Pinocytic result indicates that both extracts have probably enhanced macrophage activation. Lysosomal activity of macrophage was enhanced up to 72.38�±0.1% and 58.24�±0.1% at 100 �¼g per ml of both ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. Phagocytosis activity of macrophage was enhanced to 80�±3.0% and 72�±2.0% by both ethanolic and aqueous extracts in 100 �¼g/ml concentration. In peripheral blood lymphocytes both ethanolic and aqueous extract effectively increased the lymphocyte proliferation in the EC50 value of 32.27 �¼g per ml and 49.06 �¼g per ml after 72 hours incubation. Collectively, these results demonstrated that both extracts of I. tinctoria act as potential immunomodulator.

Biography

Madakkannu Boothapandi is currently pursuing his Ph.D under the guidance of Prof. R. Ramanibai, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Chennai. The aim of his research work is to investigate the Immunomodulatory and chemoprevntive role of active compounds isolated from I.tinctoria and S.dulcis through invitro and invivo studies.

Email: rramani8@hotmail.com