RESUMO
To study the immunomodulatory activity of saline extracts of leaves of Aloe vera Linn. (Family: Liliaceae) on the albino mice. The saline extract of leaves of Aloe vera was administered orally according to their body weight in mice. The assessment of immunomodulatory activity on specific and nonspecific immunity was studied by administration of test extract. The method of pyrogallol induced immunosupression was employed with slight modification to study the immunomodulatory potential of the extract. Humoral antibody response to SRBC measurement of antibody titer by haemagglutination reaction was done and cellular immune response (Foot pad reaction test) the edema was induced in the right paw of mice by injecting SRBC (0.025x109 cells) in the sub planar region. Pyrogallol-induced suppression of humoral as well as cell mediated immune response was significantly attenuated by daily oral treatment with saline extract of Aloe vera. Vitamin E treated group exhibited similar attenuation of the suppression in immune responses. Aloe vera extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg was found to suppress delayed type hypersensitivity reaction induced by SRBCs in mice. As evidenced by marked increase in haemagglutination titers in mice was also observed. The study demonstrates that A. vera triggers both specific and non-specific responses to a greater extent. The study comprised the acute toxicity and preliminary phytochemical screening of A. vera. From the results obtained and phytochemical studies the immunostimulant effect of Aloe vera could be attributed to the alkaloids content.
RESUMO
Chagas disease, which is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects nearly 16 million people in Latin America and causes 75-90 million people to be at risk of infection. The disease is urbanizing and globalizing due to frequent migrations. There are regions of high prevalence of infection, including the north-eastern provinces of Argentina and the entire phytogeographic region known as the Gran Chaco. In the province of Chaco, Argentina, there are places inhabited by native populations such as the Wichi and Toba communities, among others. Many Creole populations resulting from miscegenation with European colonists and immigrants coexist within these communities. It has been widely accepted that in the chronic phase of the disease, between 25-30 percent of individuals develop some form of cardiac disease, with the right bundle-branch block being the most typical condition described so far. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of Chagas infection and its electrocardiographic profile in the Wichi and Creole populations of Misión Nueva Pompeya, in the area known as Monte Impenetrable in Chaco, to determine the prevalence and the pattern of heart diseases produced by Chagas disease in this region.