Evaluation of Synergism in Drug Combinations of Convolvulus pluricaulis, Michelia champaca and Chromolaena odorata for Cellular and Humoral Mediated Immunity in Rats

Background: Findings of in-vivo studies incorporated with study of human diseases has contributed to the theory of immunology of various diseases. Humoral and cell mediated immunity plays a crucial role in humans for protection against extracellular and intracellular pathogens. Research in this area is important considering the phytoconstituents and therapeutic effects associated with the selected plants in this research as plants are free of adverse effects unlike allopathic medications. Objective: To study cellular and humoral mediated immune response of three medicinal plants – Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP), Michelia champaca (MC) and Chromolaena odorata (CO) and to evaluate the synergistic effects by combination (CI), from the herbal combination prepared by combination of above three medicinal plant extracts. Methods: The ethanolic extracts of selected plants were subjected to in-vivo models – Delayed Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) and Haemagglutination Antibody Titre (HAT) based on acute oral toxicity results. Results: Delayed type hypersensitivity: highly significant activity was noticed after 48 hours at 100 and 200 mg/kg dose levels. Haemagglutination antibody titre: The individual plant extracts were found to be insignificant. However, the combination of three extracts (COMB) showed significant antibody levels at low dose. Combination Index: the combination index was less than 1 (CI <1) for herbal combination thus indicating synergism among the plants. Conclusion: The combination extract of CP, MC and CO proved its synergistic effects through DTH and HAT models thus promising immunomodulatory potential associated with the plants. Such combination could be explored for further research studies.