Cyperus scariosus Chloroform Fraction Inhibits T cell Responses in Balb/C Mice

Purpose: To investigate the T cell inhibition potential of 50% ethanol extract of Cyperus scariosus (CS)and its bioactive chloroform fraction (CSC).Methods: The preliminary screening of the extract was carried out by humoral antibody response anddelayed-type hypersensitivity models employing sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as the antigen. Further,the extract was studied by skin allograft rejection test, and phagocytosis - in vitro and ex vivo - by C.albicans method and carbon clearance test, respectively. The extract was fractionated with chloroform,n-butanol and water, and then used to investigate the T-cell specific immunosuppressive potential ofthese fractions by flow cytometry.Results: On p.o. administration, CS inhibited both humoral and cell-mediated immune responsessignificantly (p < 0.01) by suppressing primary (26.8 %) and secondary (29.7 %) antibody titres, andalso inhibited cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) immune response (45.9 %) at 600mg/kg dose, phagocytosis - both in vitro (37.4 %) and ex vivo (37.8 %) - and delayed the graft rejectiontime (45.8%), thus confirming marked immunosuppression. Out of the three isolated fractions, only thechloroform fraction significantly (p < 0.01) suppressed CD8+/ CD4+ T cell surface markers (14.0/25.3%) and intra-cellular Th1 cytokines, viz, IL-2 (34.4 %), and IFN-&gamma; (34.7 %), compared to cyclosporine-A(5), a standard T cell inhibitor (53.6 %) which was given to Balb/C mice at 200 mg/kg dose. CSC did notsignificantly (p < 0.01) suppress Th2 (IL-4) system.Conclusion: The findings from this investigation reveal that C. scariosus causes immunosuppressionby inhibiting Th1 cytokines

WormAssay: A Novel Computer Application for Whole-Plate Motion-based Screening of Macroscopic Parasites

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by filarial nematode parasites, including Brugia malayi. Adult worms live in the lymphatic system and cause a strong immune reaction that leads to the obstruction of lymph vessels and swelling of the extremities. Chronic disease leads to the painful and disfiguring condition known as elephantiasis. Current drug therapy is effective against the microfilariae (larval stage) of the parasite, but no drugs are effective against the adult worms. One of the major stumbling blocks toward developing effective macrofilaricides to kill the adult worms is the lack of a high throughput screening method for candidate drugs. Current methods utilize systems that measure one well at a time and are time consuming and often expensive. We have developed a low-cost and simple visual imaging system to automate and quantify screening entire plates based on parasite movement. This system can be applied to the study of many macroparasites as well as other macroscopic organisms

Terminalia chebula(fruit) prevents liver toxicity caused by sub-chronic administration of rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide in combination

Terminalia chebula Gertn. (Combetraceae) is an important herbal drug in Ayurvedic pharmacopea. In the present study, a 95% ethanolic extract of T. chebula (fruit) (TC extract), which was chemically characterized on the basis of chebuloside II as a marker, was investigated for hepatoprotective activity against anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drug-induced toxicity. TC extract was found to prevent the hepatotoxicity caused by the administration of rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) (in combination) in a sub-chronic mode (12 weeks). The hepatoprotective effect of TC extract could be attributed to its prominent anti-oxidative and membrane stabilizing activities. The changes in biochemical observations were supported by histological profile

Immunosuppressive properties of Pluchea lanceolata leaves

Objective : To investigate the immunosuppressive potential of Pluchea lanceolata 50% ethanolic extract (PL) and its bioactive chloroform fraction (PLC). Materials and Methods : Preliminary screening of the Pluchea lanceolata 50% ethanolic extract (PL) was carried out with basic models of immunomodulation, such as, the humoral antibody response (hemagglutination antibody titers), cell-mediated immune response (delayed-type hypersensitivity), skin allograft rejection test, in vitro (C. albicans method), and in vivo phagocytosis (carbon clearance test). The extract was then fractionated with chloroform, n-butanol, and water to receive the respective fractions by partitioning. These fractions were employed for flow cytometry to study the T-cell specific immunosuppressive potential of these fractions. Results : Oral administration of PL at doses of 50 to 800 mg/kg in mice, with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as an antigen, inhibited both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, as evidenced by the production of the circulating antibody titer and delayed-type hypersensitiviy reaction results, respectively, and the immune suppression was statistically significant (P < 0.01) in Balb/C mice. PL also decreased the process of phagocytosis both in vitro (31.23%) and ex vivo (32.81%) and delayed the graft rejection time (30.76%). To study the T-cell-specific activities, chloroform, n-butanol, and water fractions from P. lanceolata were tested for T-cell specific immunosuppressive evaluation, wherein only the chloroform fraction (PLC) showed significant (P < 0.01) suppression of CD8+ / CD4+ T-cell surface markers and intracellular Th1 (IL-2 and IFN- Y ) cytokines at 25 - 200 mg/kg p.o. doses. PLC, however, did not show significant suppression of the Th2 (IL-4) cytokine. Conclusion : The findings from the present investigation reveal that P. lanceolata causes immunosuppression by inhibiting Th1 cytokines