Evaluation of Immunomodulatory Activity of Trianthema portulacastrum L. in Rats

Trianthema portulacastrum L. (family: Aizoaceae) commonly known as Horse purslane or Biskhapra, has been used in traditional medicine for ages due to its diverse pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anthelmintic, antifertility and anticarcinogenic properties. This study was undertaken to explore the immunostimulatory efficacy of hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum (TPHE). In this study, forty-eight adult Albino Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups. Group I served as control, group II rats were administered with cyclophosphamide at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg (p.o) on 9^th and 16^th day of study; in group III levamisole was administered at dose rate 50 mg/kg body weight (s/c) daily for 28 days; in group IV both cyclophosphamide and levamisole were given at above mentioned doses, group V and VII were administered with hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum (TPHE) at dose rates 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p.o respectively, daily and group VI and VIII were given cyclophosphamide at dose rate 100 mg/kg p.o. (on 9^th and 16^th day p.o.) along with hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum TPHE at 200 mg/ kg and 400 mg/kg respectively, for 28 days. The immunomodulatory efficacy of plant extracts was assessed in rats by performing haemagglutination test, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, phagocytic index, neutrophil adhesion test and total immunoglobulin estimation. A significant (p<0.05) difference in haemagglutination titre, delayed type sensitivity reaction, phagocytic index, neutrophil adhesion and total immunoglobulin concentration was observed in the treatment groups as compared to that of control and cyclophosphamide treated groups and treatment with TPHE restored these parameters towards normal in the extract groups in a dose dependent manner. Thus, it is concluded that the hydroethanolic extract of Trianthema portulacastrum has the potential to ameliorate immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide in rats.