ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of methanolic extract of Gongronema latifollum (utazi) on wistar albino rats. Immunomodulation may be specific or non-specific. Potentiation of the immune response is needed for certain cases such as for immunocompromised patients, whereas suppression of the immune response is desired for others as in organ transplant, allergic and inflammatory diseased patients. A total of sixteen (16) wistar albino rats were used for the study and grouped into four (4), with each group having four (4) rats each. The normal control was administered normal saline while the negative control was administered pyrogallol in order to suppress the immune system. The treated rats were administered 200mg/kg body weight and 400mg/kg body weight of the plant extract and 10% pyrogallol to represent the low and high doses respectively. These administrations lasted 21 days after which blood was drawn through ocular puncture and serum collected for use for the assay. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated on haematological indices (packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total white blood cell count), cytokine expressions (interleukine — 2, interferon-I and tumor necrosis factor), haemaglutination titre (primary and secondary humoral antibody) and the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). No significant (p0.05) differences were observed in the haematological indices. Significant (p<0.05) increase was seen in the interferon-y, while a non-significant (p<0.05) increase was obtained in tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukine-2. The primary and secondary antibody titre show significant increases and the delayed type hypersensitivity also indicated a significant increase. These comparisons were made against the negative control. This study indicates that the extract of G. latifollum has immunostimulatory effect on the immune system.