Project Materials

MODULATION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN ALBINO RATS BY LEAF EXTRACTS OF TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS (HOOK F) AND TECTONA GRANDIS (LINN)

ABSTRACT

In vivo, leaf extracts of Telfairia occidentalis (Hook F) and Tectona grandis (Linn) were tested for their immunomodulating effects on both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The reacting cells were identified using flow cytometry, and the secretion of several cytokines was measured using ELISA. Structural elucidation of the bioactive compounds causing the observed impact was also explored. The extracts contained a high concentration of bioactive compounds, including soluble carbohydrates (1.624 ± 0.002; 0.910 ± 0.003 mg/100g), tannin (6.593 ± 0.228; 5.325 ± 0.526 mg/100g), flavonoids (3.780 ± 0.228; 3.285 ± 0.526 mg/100g), saponins (3.285 ± 0.526; 0.744 ± 0.004 mg/g), reducing sugars (293.364 ± 0.002; nil mg/100g), and glycosides. Acute toxicity studies on the extracts revealed no mortality or adverse reactions in test mice at doses of up to 5000 mg/kg body weight, indicating that they are safe to consume. The first step of this study looked into the immune-modulating effects of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Telfairia occidentalis and Tectona grandis on immunocompromised and non-immune-compromised rats. The study found significant evidence for the extracts’ immune-modulatory effects. It also established that this effect is mediated via cytokine production and synergistic anti-oxidant activity, and that moderate boiling has no negative impact on this effect. The two plant extracts performed similarly in the majority of the criteria tested.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

The reality of our current society reveals a prevalence of activities that promote free radical generation, cause stress, eventually weaken the immune system, and raise vulnerability to infections and diseases.

The immune system is a set of biological structures and activities that protects an organism from disease. Its purpose is to defend the host from invading infections and remove sickness (Sharma et al., 2004; Naga and Rajeshwari 2014).

The immune system is essential for maintaining health and well-being, and it is closely linked to the four leading causes of death: injury, infection, degenerative illnesses, and cancer.

Immunity is concerned with the recognition and disposal of foreign materials that enter the body, whereas immunology is the study of how immune components respond and interact, the consequences (both desirable and unfavourable) of their activity, and the ways in which they can be advantageously increased or reduced.

Immune protection has two aspects: the innate reaction and the adaptive response (Atal et al., 1986; Guyton and Hall, 2006).

Innate immunity is present from birth and serves as the initial line of defence against pathogenic microorganisms. The second line of defence against infection is adaptive immunity.

It is acquired later in life and remembers the intruders it has encountered (Nworu, 2007). Substances can modify innate and adaptive processes to promote or reduce resistance to pathogen invasion (Williams and Barclay 1988).

The immune system is recognised to play a role in both the aetiology and pathophysiology of numerous diseases (Kalpeshet al., 2009). Immunology is thus likely one of the fastest growing areas of biomedical study, with significant potential for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of illnesses (Patilet al., 2012).

Key elements of the immune response include self and non-self recognition (Karlsen and Dryberg, 1998), immune response regulation (Jerne, 1984), immune response termination after effective control of the offending agent (Parjis and Abbas, 1998), and the establishment of a repertoire of memory cells for the future. The growth of immunological illnesses facing humanity today is concerning.

This increase is attributed to a variety of factors, including environmental and dietary patterns. Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, congestive heart failure, autoimmune illnesses, a variety of inflammatory disorders, and infectious diseases like AIDS, malaria, typhoid fever, and the feared Ebola virus disease are examples of immune system disorders.

These and other disorders are caused by an immune function abnormality (Patwardhan et al., 1990). The immune system can be impacted by dietary and metabolic state (Procaccini et al., 2013).

Agents that affect the immune system, either by boosting or inhibiting it, are extremely important in management.