Immunomodulatory activity of Kaempferia Rotunda l. rhizome against cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression in swiss albino mice

Kaempferia rotunda is a fragrant medicinal plant widely used in preparation of Chyavanaprasam, a rasayana (rejuvenating) drug. Research work are limited on immunomodulatory effect of this plant. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extract of K. rotunda in cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression in Swiss albino mice was evaluated. Physiological, hematological, biochemical and histopathological observations were performed for evaluating the immunomodulatory status. The results of the present study showed that the total leukocyte count was significantly higher in K. rotunda alone treated group on 12^th day while on 19^th day K. rotunda treated cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed mice showed significantly higher leukocyte count. Significantly higher values were observed in both K. rotunda alone treated as well as K. rotunda treated cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed mice for lymphocytes and monocytes. Haemagglutination test conducted for evaluating the humoral immune response showed that both K. rotunda alone and K. rotunda treated immunosuppressed mice showed significant increase in the titre value compared with cyclophosphamide control. Bone marrow cellularity test performed for evaluation of cellular immune response showed cyclophosphamide control group with significantly lower bone marrow cellularity on 12^th and 19^th day while K. rotunda alone treated and K. rotunda treated immunosuppressed mice showed a significant increase in the bone marrow cellularity. The result of histopathology of spleen revealed that K. rotunda induced hyperplasia of lymphocyte in white and red pulp while K. rotunda treated cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed mice showed proliferation of lymphocytes in white pulp and mild depletion in the marginal zone at 12^th day. Gas chromatography mass spectrometric profiling of K. rotunda extract showed the presence of 18 compounds. The presence of andrographolide, bornyle acetate, pentadecane and heptadacane might be responsible for the immunomodulatory activity of K. rotunda.Thus, the study concluded that the administration of ethanolic extract of K. rotunda rhizome enhanced the immune response in cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed Swiss Albino mice.