Immunomodulatory Potential of Andrographis paniculata in Chicken Lymphocytes Ulture System

Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh) is a traditional herbaceous plant commonly known as “King of Bitter”. Andrographis paniculata contains diterpenes, lactones and flavonoids. Flavonoids mainly exist in the root, but have also been isolated from the leaves. Aerial parts contain alkanes, ketones, and aldehydes and the bitter principles in the leaves were due to presence of the lactone andrographolide named kalmeghin. It has multiple pharmacological activities such as protozoacidal, antihepatotoxic, anti HIV, immunostimulative, anticancer, hypoglycemic and hypotensive activities. In the present study aqueous extract of leaves of Andrographis paniculata (APE) was prepared and subjected to different biochemical qualitative tests and GC-MS analysis to detect various phytoconstituents in APE. It was further explored for evaluation of antioxidative and immunomodulatory potential in chicken lymphocytes culture system through nitric oxide (NO) estimation and lymphocytes proliferation assay (LPA). Biochemical tests confirmed presence of proteins, resins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, phenolics, tannins, etc. GC-MS analysis showed presence of twelve compounds. There was significant reduction in NO concentration in avian lymphocyte culture as compared to control in APE treated cells. There was marked increase in B cell proliferation in APE treated cells as compared to control, whereas blastogenic capacity of T cells was significantly suppressed by APE.