Bio-Active Compounds and its Immunomodulatory Properties

Bioactive compounds are secondary metabolites produced by plants.The bioactive compounds like Curcumin, Resveratrol, Quercetin, â-Glucan, Lycopene, Genistein and others isolated from various plants are found to be act very effectively as Immunomodulators. The immunomodulators produce variety of immune responses by stimulating or supressing immune responses. Along with immunomodulatory properties, these bioactive compounds have many other pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory, Anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, cardio and neuroprotective and many others. The immunostimulants stimulate the immune responses of immune system when any pathogen enters human body as in case of bacterial and viral infections. These are generally administered when body’s immunity is decreased due to various reasons like aging, health conditions etc., Imunosuppresants supress immune responses of immune system. These are generally administered during organ transplantation to suppress the immune responses. Immunomodulators not only modulate immune responses but also used in treatment of various types of diseases like Malaria, Cancer, Alzeimer’s and to improve functioning of immune system etc., The present article highlights the immunomodulatory effects of Curcumin, Resveratrol, Quercetin, â-Glucan, Lycopene and Genistein.