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).