Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):7.
doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04282-4.

Immunomodulatory effects of epiphytic Loranthus micranthus leaf extracts collected from two host plants: Psidium guajava and Parkia biglobosa

Ngozi Dorathy Idoko  1 , Ifeoma Felicia Chukwuma  2 , Florence Nkechi Nworah  1 , Sopuruchukwu Elizabeth Mba  1 , Parker Elijah Joshua  1 , Okwesilieze Fred Chiletugo Nwodo  3 , Wafaa Fouzi Abusudah  4 , Najlaa Hamed Almohmadi  4 , Michel de Waard  5   6   7
Affiliations

Immunomodulatory effects of epiphytic Loranthus micranthus leaf extracts collected from two host plants: Psidium guajava and Parkia biglobosa

Ngozi Dorathy Idoko et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. .

Abstract

Background: Immunological abnormalities are implicated in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Due to the drug-related adverse effects of currently available orthodox immunomodulators, natural immunomodulators are being looked upon as potential agents to replace them in therapeutic regimens. This research aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory potential of L. micranthus extracts epiphytic on Psidium guajava (LMPGE) and Parkia biglobosa (LMPBE).

Methods: Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity testing were carried out to identify the phytoconstituents and safety profiles of the extracts. The extracts' innate and adaptive immunomodulatory potentials were determined in experimental animals using in vivo leucocyte mobilization, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, hemagglutination antibody titre, and cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression models. Levamisole was used as the standard drug throughout the study.

Results: Compared to LMPBE, LMPGE contained significantly (p < 0.05) more tannins, cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, reducing sugars, glycosides, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Furthermore, the groups treated with the extracts had a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total number of leucocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and antibody titers relative to the untreated control. In the same way, the treatment raised TLC in cyclophosphamide-intoxicated rats, with 250 mg/kg b. w. of LMPGE and LMPBE recording 9712.50 ± 178.00 and 8000.00 ± 105.00 × 109 /L, respectively, compared to 3425.00 ± 2 5.00 × 109 /L in the untreated group. Overall, LMPGE was more effective.

Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that L. micranthus epiphytic in Psidium guajava and Parkia biglobosa has possible immune stimulating potential.

Keywords: Antibodies; Cell-mediated immunity; Humoral immunity; Immunomodulatory; Loranthus micranthus; Phytochemicals.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The effects of LMPGE and LMPBE on total and differential leukocyte counts
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of LMPGE and LMPBE on delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by SRBCs
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Primary and secondary antibody titres of rats challenged with SRBCs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Jantan I, Ahmad W, Nasir S, Bukhari A. Plant-derived immunomodulators : an insight on their preclinical evaluation and clinical trials. Front Plant Sci. 2015;6:655. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00655. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sunitha VS, Midhun SJ, Sunil MA, Radhakrishnan EK, Mathew J. Valencene-rich fraction from Vetiveria zizanioides exerts immunostimulatory effects in vitro and in mice. Asian Pacific J Trop Biomed J. 2021;11:335–343. doi: 10.4103/2221-1691.319568. - DOI
    1. Ekwueme FN, Nwodo OFC, Eluka PE, Nkwocha C, Ezugwu AL, Odo I. Evaluating the immunomodulatory potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Sennamimosoides in Wistar albino rats. J Pharm Biol Sci. 2015;10:83–89.
    1. Vonmoos M, Hirsiger S, Preller KH, Baumgartner MR, Quednow BB. Cognitive and neuroanatomical impairments associated with chronic exposure to levamisole-contaminated cocaine. Transl Psychiatry. 2018;8:235–246. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0279-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gartz A, Pawlik E, Eckhardt J, Ritz-timme S, Huhn R, Mayer F. Effects of cocaine and levamisole ( as adulterant ) on the isolated perfused Langendorff heart. Int J Legal Med. 2020;134:1741–1752. doi: 10.1007/s00414-020-02300-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources