Study on immunomodulatory activity of ethanolic extract of<i style=""> Spilanthes acmella</i> Murr. leaves

Abstract

The leaves of <i style="">Spilanthes acmella </i>Murr.<b style=""> </b>have been used traditionally as tonic and in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, sailagogine and claimed to possess immunostimulant activity. In the present study, the ethanolic extract (500mg/kg bwt p.o.) of its leaves was evaluated for immunomodulatory activity using various models like modulation of macrophage function (morphometric and functional changes in mice), carbon clearance assay with the help of Indian ink dispersion (0.5ml/100g bwt i.v.) in mice and immunoprophylactic effect with the help of <i style="">Escherichia coli</i> (0.5ml/100g bwt i.p.) in mice. The extract (500mg/kg b.wt. p.o.) exhibited significant (<i style="">P&lt;</i>0.01) peritoneal macrophage stimulation and 25 to 50% mortality as compared to control mice, indicating its prominent immunostimulant activity.