Objective: To investigate the effect of
Hemidesmus indicus
extract on activities of human peripheral blood lymphocytes
in vitro .
Materials and Methods: The total extract of the raw herb was obtained by methanol: isopropyl alcohol: acetone extraction and used at different concentrations. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were isolated, stimulated to proliferate using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with and without different concentration of herbal extracts. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and immunoglobulin (IgG) secretion from cultured PBLs were studied with the herbal extracts and appropriate controls.
Results: Hemidesmus indicus extract stimulated the cell proliferation at 1 mg/ml concentration significantly, after 72 h in culture. Viability of extract-treated PBLs was also maintained after culture. The extract increased the IgG production from cultured PBLs, when used at 1 mg/ml concentration. It also increased the ADA activity of PBLs after 72 h in culture.
Conclusion: An immunomodulatory activity of
H.indicus, related to IgG secretion and ADA activity, is revealed during the study. The herbal extract has shown to promote the release of IgG by lymphocytes and also the ADA activity after 72 h of culture.
