Immunostimulatory effect of Mimusops elengi Linn stem bark in mice

Abstract

Objectives: To scrutinise the immunostimulatory activity of methanolic extract of bark of Mimusops elengi Linn (MEMEL) in mice. Materials and Methods: The MEMEL was administered orally at the dose of 10, 20, 40 mg/kg/day body weight in mice. The immunostimulatory activities on specific and non-specific immunity were studied by carbon clearance test (CCT), haemagglutination antibody (HA) and delayed type hypersensitivity, using sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as the antigen. Distilled water served as a control in all the tests and vitamin E 150 mg/kg was used as standard. Result: Oral administration of MEMEL showed a dose-dependent increased immunostimulatory response. Phagocytic index was found to be increased significantly (P < 0.01) in CCT. The production of circulatory antibody titre (humoral antibody response) was increased significantly (P < 0.01) and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction was found to be augmented less significantly (P < 0.05) by increasing the mean footpad thickness at 48 hr in response to SRBC as an antigen. Conclusion: This finding suggests that the MEMEL possesses potential for augmenting immune activity by cellular and humoral-mediated mechanisms.