ABSTRACT
Background: The current research was undertaken on dried fruits of Capparis moonii to screen its potential for immunomodulatory and cancer indications with identification of phytoconstituents by chromatographic techniques.Methods: Methanolic (MECN), hydro-methanolic (HMECN) and aqueous extracts (AQCN) of Capparis moonii were subjected to high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after studying the total phenolic and flavonoid content by using rutin and gallic acid as standards respectively as well as undertaking powder characteristics and preliminary phytochemical screening. Immunomodulatory activities covered were hemagglutination antibody titre and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction with the aid of sheep red blood cells (0.5×109) as antigens. The extracts were studied for antioxidant potential. Anticancer prospects were focusing on in vitro cell lines screening (MCF 7 and HCT 15) by Sulforhodamine B assay method and potato disc assay.Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid content of MECM, HMECM and AQCM fruits extracts were found to be 0.20, 0.11 and 0.47 mg of gallic acid/g and 78.3, 18.8 and 64.4 mg of rutin/g respectively. Rutin and quercetin were confirmed by HPTLC and HPLC showing well resolved peaks. IC50 values in antioxidant studies were found to be significant with all the extracts. Significant immunomodulatory effect was noticed at 200mg/kg in both models (high antibody titre levels and decrease paw volume after 48 h). Unsatisfactory results were observed with selected cell lines and disc assay.Conclusions: Thus, selected fruits may probably have immunomodulatory potential due to presence of flavonols (rutin and quercetin).
ABSTRACT
Carissa congesta and Benincasa hispida are well-known medicinally important plants associated with diabetes, inflammation, protozal infections and cancer. Here, we emphasized up on the immunomodulatory potential of these plants as the source of lupeol, β-sitosterol and ursolic acid. Petroleum ether extracts of C. congesta roots and B. hispida seeds were subjected to acute toxicity studies. They were screened for its immunomodulatory prospective in rats by Haemagglutination Antibody (HA) titre and Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) response using Sheep Red Blood Cells (SRBCs of-0.5×109) as antigens. Carbon Clearance test (Phagocytic Index) was estimated by Indian ink suspension. Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model interpretation was done by paw edema, kene joint erosion (transverse section), body weights, arthritic index and biochemical levels (RBC, WBC and Hb levels). Both the extracts were found to be therapeutically safe up to 5000 mg/kg. Dosage of 100 mg/kg was not satisfactory; and 500 and 250 mg/kg showed significant immunostimmulation (HA Titre) and immunosuppression (DTH response, 48 h). Benincasa hispida seed and Carissa congesta root extracts showed phagocytic Index of 0.0163±0.003, 0.0145±0.003 and 0.0183±0.003, 0.0176±0.003 at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively. CFA model revealed that the B. hispida seed and C. congesta root extracts decreased paw volume, knee joint erosion, increased body weights and biochemical parameters with an arthritic index of 1.31±0.12, 1.44±0.15 and 1. 16±0.09, 1.36±0.13 at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg, respectively. The results were interpreted by One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett test. Extracts showed relevance as promising immunostimulators as compared to control.