ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of the ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia [Family: Menispermaceae] stem [climbing shrub, mango plant] at cellular level. For antioxidant study, the liver mitochondria were separated and the concentration of enzymes like lipid peroxidation [LPO], reduced glutathione [GSH], catalase [CAT] and superoxide Dismutase [SOD] were estimated; melatonin secretion characterization was carried out through SDS-PAGE. The spleen lymphocyte proliferation assay was performed through measuring its optical density at 570 nm using Elisa Reader. The cytokines viz. IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-a expression in spleen cells were determined through Real Time PCR. Tinospora cordifolia [Tc] ethanolic extract [100 mg/Kg/p.o.] increased the level of liver mitochondrial enzymes like GSH, CAT and SOD but decreased the level of LPO in liver as compared to the vehicle, SRBC and cyclophosphamide-treated groups. The secretion of melatonin via pineal gland was enhanced with Tc treatment. The extract also increased the spleen lymphocyte proliferation. In RT-PCR analysis, the expression of cytokines viz. IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-alpha was more in Tc-treated animals than vehicle and cyclophosphamide treatment. Hence, the study confirms the immunomodulatory activity of Tc stem through altering the concentration of antioxidant enzymes, increasing T and B cells and antibody which play an important role in immunity, enhancing the concentration of melatonin in pineal gland and increasing the level of cytokines like IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-a which plays an important role in immunity