Immunomodulatory Activity on Specific Immune Function in Albino Mice Exposed to Extract and Fractions of Zapoteca portoricensis (Jacq) HM. Hernández Roots

Abstract

Zapoteca portoricensis (Jacq) HM. Hernández popularly called “Elugelu” belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is reportedly used in traditional medicine as anti-diarrhoea, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic and in management of autoimmune disorders. The immunomodulatory activity of methanol root extract and fractions of Zapoteca portoricensis was evaluated using three experimental models: neutrophil adhesion, haemagglutination antibody (HA) titre and delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) of an immune response in mice. Five (5) groups of mice (n=5) were used; group I was the normal control; group II was the standard control (levamisole, 2.5 mg/kg) while groups IIIA–C, IVA–C and VA–C received graded doses (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) of methanol extract (ME), ethyl acetate fraction (EF) and methanol fraction (MF), respectively. Sheep red blood cells (SRBCs; 0.1 ml) were injected subcutaneously to sensitize the animals. The study results showed that the methanol fraction (MF) exhibited the highest percentage (46.12%) in neutrophil adhesion followed by the ethyl acetate fraction (EF) (37.06%) at 100 mg/kg dose, respectively, compared with the normal control. The highest percentage increase in both primary and secondary antibody titre was found to be ME (85.19%, 43.20%), EF (91.53%, 102.67%) and MF (128.31%, 111.89%) at 50 mg/kg dose, respectively compared to the normal control. The EF at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg produced the highest percentage inhibition (56.57%, 58.33%) in DTH response, respectively, followed by MF (42.46%) at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Oral administration of Z. portoricensis exhibited immunomodulatory effects on specific components of the immune system in mice.