http://academic.oup.com/milmed/article-pdf/146/7/506/24126715/milmed-146-7-506.pdf

Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Some of the medicinal plants valued in Ayurvedic Rasayana for their therapeutic potential have been scientifically investigated with promising results. A number of plant-based principles have been isolated with potential immunomodulatory activity that can explain and justify their use in traditional medicine in the past and can form the basis for further research in the future as well. The aim of this review is to highlight results of research done on immunomodulators of plant origin. The selection of papers was made using the most relevant databases for the biomedical sciences on the basis of their ethnopharmacological use. Many plants and some phytoconstituents responsible for immunomodulation have been explained. The review also discusses biological screening methods for various plant drugs that focus on revealing the mechanism involved in immunomodulation. This work shall hopefully encourage researchers to undertake further work on medicinal plants with potential immunomodulatory activity.

A review of immunomodulators in the Indian traditional health care system

Herbal Immune-boosters: Substantial Warriors of Pandemic Covid-19 Battle

Background: Biochemical, haematological and Immunomodulatory effect of Ocimum sanctum in rat was studied. Objective: To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Ocimum sanctum in rat Methods: Aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum were administered oraly at doses of 100, 200 mg/kg/day for 45 days in wistar albino rats. Immunomodulatory effect and biochemical and haematological changes were tested by standard methods. Results: Aqueous extract of the Ocimum sanctum showed increasing antibody production in dose dependent manner. It enhance the production of RBC, WBC and haemoglobin. It dose not affect the biochemical parameters. Conclusion: An oral administration of the aqueous extract of O. sanctum showed immunomodulatory effect in rat.

http://www.kejapub.com/ijpbr/docs/IJPBR11-02-01-09.pdf

Immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum in rat

Human immune system is a complex interplay of numerous dynamic cellular and biochemical components. The dynamicity in immune “homeostasis” is altered by certain exogenous and endogenous factors causing pathophysiological conditions. The states of pathophysiology can be moderated by the immunomodulators to restore normalcy. The restorative and rejuvenating property of the immunomodulators strengthen the body’s defense mechanisms against such maladies. These immunomodulators could either induce stimulation or amplification of the immune response as immunostimulants or suppress the immune response as immunosuppressants or enhance the efficacy of vaccines as immunoadjuvants. The plant-derived immunomodulators are being considered as safer alternatives as most synthetic immunomodulators pose serious toxicity or other side effects. While immunostimulants are used for treating cancer, immunosuppressants can help to treat various autoimmune and hypersensitivity disorders. Several commonly known plants like Acorus calamus, Actinidia macrosperma, Allium sativum, Alpinia galangal, Alternanthera tenella, Andrographis paniculata, Angelica sinensis, Argyreia speciosa, Averrhoa bilimbi, Azadirachta indica, Boerhaavia diffusa, Catharanthus roseus, Centella asiatica, Codonopsis pilosula, Cynodon dactylon, Curcuma longa, Ficus benghalensis, Ganoderma tsugae, Morus alba, Murraya koenigii, Ocimum sanctum, Panax ginseng, Pelargonium graveolens, Phyllanthus emblica, Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Senegalia catechu, Terminalia arjuna, Tinospora cordifolia, Tridax procumbens, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinale, etc. are currently being investigated for their immunomodulatory potentials. On the other hand, many plant-derived bioactive compounds like flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, polysaccharides, saponins, terpenes, cordifolioside A, syringing, curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechol-3-gallate, quercetin, colchicine, capsaicin, andrographolide, genistein, flavopiridol, combretastatin, lycopene, dendroside, dendronobilosides, etc. play an immunomodulatory role. Medicinal plants induce a nonspecific widespread modulation of the immune system with effects on various immune cells, namely, macrophages, natural killer cells, and granulocytes. Hence, a better understanding of immunomodulatory roles of plants, their mode of action, and phytoconstituents would enable us to identify lead compounds from natural sources for the development of novel and safe immunomodulators that can fortify current therapies.

Plant-Derived Immunomodulators

Background: Traditionally the aqueous and alcoholic extracts as well as seed oil of Ocimum sanctum is reported to modulate the immune response. So the present study was undertaken to compare the immunomodulatory activity between alcoholic and aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum. Objective: To comparatively evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum. Methods: Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum were administered orally at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for 14 days to healthy albino Swiss mice. The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was carried by testing the humoral (haemagglutination antibody titer model) and cellular immunity (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction models). Results: On oral administration of aqueous and alcoholic extracts had stimulatory effect on delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and significantly (p<0.01) improved humoral immunity. Conclusion: The study shown stimulatory effect on the humoral and delayed type hypersensitivity but the alcoholic extract was more potent in producing immune stimulation than aqueous extract.

http://www.kejapub.com/ijpbr/docs/IJPBR10-01-01-05.pdf

K. Nandkumar

Papers

Comparative evaluation of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of ocimum sanctum for immunomodulatory activity