Immunostimulating Effects of Pelargonium Reinforme/sidoides Extract (kalobin) on Mice Infected with Prohemistomum Vivax

The immunostimulating effect of Pelargonium reinforme / sidoides extract (Kalobin) against Prohemistomum vivax infection in mice was investigated. Five groups of mice were constructed. The first group was not treated nor infected and considered as control, the second group; control infected, was not treated but orally infected with 150 P. vivax metacercareae. The third, fourth and fifth groups received 100 μg/dl, 200μg/dl and 400 μg/dl of Pelargonium reinforme/sidoides extract in drinking water, respectively. The extract was given to the experimental mice two weeks before and two weeks after oral infection with 150 P. vivax metacercareae. The results revealed that the worm burden in non-treated infected group was significantly higher than that in treated groups. Meanwhile, the group received 200 μg/dl was the least in respect to worm burden. Total serum protein, serum albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were significantly decreased in non-treated infected group compared with control group. The anti-parasitic immunoglobulin level indicated that Pelargonium reniforme/sidoides administration induced significant IgG and IgA immunoglobulaenemia compared with infected nontreated group.