Abstract

EVALUATION OF IMMUNOSTIMULATORY EFFECT OF ERYTHRINA SENEGALENSIS ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSED SWISS ALBINO RATS.

*Mohammed S. B., Ya’aba Y., Uba A., brahim K. and Peters O. A. 

Abstract

The frequency of life threatening infections has increased dramatically among cancer patients, transplant recipients, AIDS patients and those receiving broad spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, and cytotoxic drugs. There is also an upsurge in the number of strains of infectious agents that no longer succumb to antibiotics. Therefore instead of focusing on drugs that block bacterial growth, researchers shifted to develop drugs that can boost people‗s natural defenses against microbes. As most of the leguminaseae, Erythrina senegalensis produce many secondary metabolites some of which have a function of defense against pathogenic fungi and bacteria including multidrug resistant pathogens. It is not clear how extracts of these this plant exert its therapeutic effects. Aqueous extracts of the roots, stem bark and leaves was evaluated for their effects on functioning and activities of the immune cells. Extracts were administered orally using carnula and their ability to reverse cyclophosphomide induced leucopenia by enhancing total WBC counts, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count, activate and enhance phagocytic activity in rats were investigated. Data obtained was analyzed using ANOVA and student ttest at p

Keywords: Immunostimulatory, CD4+, Carnula, Erythrina senegalensis, WBC, Phagocytic.