ABSTRACT
Immunostimulatory activity of AC II, a registered ayurvedic preparation prepared at Amala Ayurvedic Research Centre for treating HIV and AIDS is reported. AC II administration could significantly enhance the mitogen-induced proliferation of lymphocytes of spleen cells. It was also found to increase cell-mediated immune responses in normal and tumor-bearing control animals. Oral administration of AC II significantly enhanced Natural Killer cell activity in normal and tumor-bearing animals on the 7th day, which was observed earlier than the tumor-bearing control animals and normal animals. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was also increased in AC II treated normal and tumor-bearing animals. An early enhancement of antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity was also observed by the administration of AC II in normal as well as tumor-bearing animals. Treatment with AC II elevated the levels of IL-2, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in normal mice. Administration of AC II was also found to increase the cytotoxic T lymphocyte production in EL4 treated mice. These studies support the use of this immune stimulatory preparation in HIV patients.
Subject(s)
Animals , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Proliferation , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Interleukin-2/metabolism , K562 Cells , Killer Cells, Natural/cytology , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Medicine, Ayurvedic , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Spleen/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
A single dose of 6 Gy irradiation significantly reduced the total WBC count while in herbal formulation (AC II) treated groups it was found to be significantly increased. Similarly bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells, which were lowered by radiation, were partly restored in AC II treated groups. The data indicate that AC II can overcome the immunosuppression produced by irradiation.