Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY AND IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Isah Sulaiman Yahaya*, Kabir Magaji Hamid, Habiba Yahaya Muhammad, Yazeed Garba Bala, Aminu Yusuf and Usman Abubakar

Abstract

Bioactive component and the toxic effect of plants material play a pivotal role in ascertaining the integrity of plant material. This study was aimed at determining the qualitative phytochemical screening, acute toxicity study and immunomodulatory activity of polyherbal formulation (PHF) in Albino Wistar Rats. Standard methods and procedures were carried out to determine the phytochemical constituents of the formulation. A total of 36 Wistar rats were used for the study. Lorke’s methods were used for acute toxicity study. A total of 24 Wistar rats 4 per group were divided into 6 groups. Group 1 received normal saline, Group 2 Levamisole hydrochloride 50 mg throughout the intervention, Groups 3 received Cyclophosphamide 200 mg at the beginning of the study, Group 4-6 received varying doses of PHF daily for 14 days after which blood sample was collected, serum cytokines (IL-10 and IL-12) were measured using quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique. The result of this study shows the presence of some constituents in the PHF with the absence of Anthroquinones. The LD50 of PHF was above 5000 mg/kg/bw and no mortality was reported. Serum level of IL- 12 significantly increase in dose dependant manner across the treatment group (p<0.001), whereas IL-10 is inconsistent. Therefore, it may be concluded that the PHF has rich source of phytoconstituent and practically safe with potential immunomodulatory activity on IL-12.

Keywords: Cytokine, Immunomodulation, Lethal Dose 50, Plants medicinal, Phytochemicals.