Immunomodulatory activity of methanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera in Wistar albino rats
-
Joshua Nfambi
,
Lawrence Fred Sembajwe
Abstract
Background: Globally, Moringa oleifera is used by different communities to treat various ailments including modulation of the immune system though with limited scientific evidence. The aim was to study the immunomodulatory activity of M. oleifera methanolic leaf extract in Wistar albino rats.
Methods: An experimental laboratory-based study was done following standard methods and procedures. Nine experimental groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) each comprising of six animals were used. Group I received normal saline. Groups II to IX received 200 mg/kg bwt cyclophosphamide at the beginning of the study. Group III received 50 mg/kg bwt of an immunostimulatory drug levamisole. Groups IV to IX were dosed daily for 14 days with extract at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg bwt, respectively, using an intragastric tube. Complete blood count (CBC), delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH), neutrophil adhesion test, and hemagglutination antibody titer were determined using standard methods and procedures. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad prism 5.0a Software.
Results: There was an increment in WBC, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts at a dose of 1000 mg/kg bwt similar to the levamisole-positive control group. The neutrophil adhesion was statistically significant (p≤0.05) for treatment groups that received 1000 mg/kg bwt (29.94%) and 500 mg/kg bwt at 17.28%. The mean percentage increment in footpad thickness was highest (26.9%) after 8 h of injection of antigen in the footpad of rats dosed 500 mg/kg bwt and this later reduced to 25.6% after 24 h. There was a dose-dependent increment in the mean hemagglutination antibody titer to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) from 10.73±0.57 HA units/μL for the 250 mg/kg bwt to 26.22±1.70 HA units/μL for the 1000 mg/kg bwt.
Conclusions: Methanolic leaf extract of M. oleifera caused a significant immunostimulatory effect on both the cell-mediated and humoral immune systems in the Wistar albino rats.
Acknowledgments
This work was made possible by Medical Education for Equitable Services to All Ugandans a Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MESAU/MEPI) grant number 5R24TW008886 from the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration and National Institutes of Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the government.
Author contributions:All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission. Joshua Nfambi participated in the study design, data collection, paper writing and editing. Godfrey Bbosa participated in the study design, paper writing, and editing. James Gakunga participated in data collection. Lawrence Fred Sembajwe participated in paper writing and editing. Josephine Kasolo participated in the study design, paper writing, and editing.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership:None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests:The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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©2015 by De Gruyter
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Behavior and Neuroprotection
- Neurobehavioural evaluation of Lophira alata (Ochnaceae) stem bark extract in mice
- Cardiovascular Function
- Altered cardiovascular autonomic function in young normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents – Is obesity an additional risk factor?
- Atheromic and lymphoplasmacytic effects of Mangifera indica methanolic leaf extract on the heart of chinchilla rabbits
- Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Interactions
- Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and management practices of acute coronary syndrome in a tertiary care hospital
- Oxidative Stress
- Effect of homopterocarpin, an isoflavonoid from Pterocarpuserinaceus, on indices of liver injury and oxidative stress in acetaminophen-provoked hepatotoxicity
- Metabolism
- Activation of insulin signaling and energy sensing network by AICAR, an AMPK activator in insulin resistant rat tissues
- Mature coconut water exhibits antidiabetic and antithrombotic potential via L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in alloxan induced diabetic rats
- Methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves improves glucose tolerance, glycogen synthesis and lipid metabolism in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
- Morphological changes in the pancreas and glucose reduction of the aqueous extract of Costus afer leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic rats
- Immune Response
- Immunomodulatory activity of methanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera in Wistar albino rats
- Immune response modulatory effect of Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC: an in vivo experimental study
- Inflammation
- Thymoquinone ameliorates NLRP3-mediated inflammation in the pancreas of albino Wistar rats fed ethanol and high-fat diet
- Miscellaneous
- Perceptions and practices of self-medication in healthcare and nonhealthcare university students in South India
