Immunomodulatory Activity of Ethanol Extract of Sarcostemma Secamone (l.) Bennet (asclepiadaceae) in Mice

Sarcostemma secamone (L.) Bennet an ethnomedicinal plant was studied for its immunomodulatory activity. Immunomodulatory activity of different doses of ethanol extract of Sarcostemma secamone was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. Mice were treated with two doses (150 and 300mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. Body weight, relative organ weight, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and Haemagglutionation titre (HT) were studied in various groups of animals. The results obtained show a significant increase (p<0.05) in body weight and relative organ weight of spleen, liver and kidney at dose of 300mg/kg. The Sarcostemma secamone extract eliciated a significant increase (p<0.05) in the DTH response at dose of 300mg/kg. In the HT test, the plant extract showed a stimulatory effect at all doses. The doses of 300mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) increases the WBC count, compared with the control group. Overall, Sarcostemma secamone showed a stimulatory effect on both humoral and cellular immune functions in animal models.