Evaluation of Immunomodulatory Effect of Aqueous Extract of Bauhinia variegata L. Leaves

Natural products have the potential to modulate the immunity of human beings either by stimulating or depressing it and the approach was being used over time by medicinal practitioners to treat ailments. This present study was planned to ascertain the immunomodulating potential of one of the Indian traditional medicinal plants Bauhinia variegata L. The aqueous extract of powdered leaves of Bauhinia variegata L. was prepared by using the decoction method and the extract was then dried and made free from solvent. The extract of Bauhinia variegata L. (BVAE) was screened for immunomodulating activity by hemagglutination reaction for humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity study for cellular immune responses. The sheep RBC (5X10⁹ cells/mL) was used as antigen and levamisole was used as the standard drug in both studies. The extract of plant material (BVAE) showed a dose-dependent response in these studies. BVAE at 400 mg/kg dose among all the doses of plant material showed significantly (p<0.05) high antibody titer 7.13±0.17) in humoral immune response and potential delayed-type hypersensitivity response (0.96±0.06) in the cellular immune study. Whereas, the standard drug levamisole showed the most significant (p<0.01) higher antibody titer (7.87±0.19) and delayed-type hypersensitivity response (1.24±0.04). Though the standard drug showed a better response the plant material also showed the potential immunomodulatory effect in the present study. Hence, the findings of this study proposed the immunomodulatory effect of the aqueous extract of Bauhinia variegata L., and 400 mg/kg dose of the extract was found to be potent among other doses.