Abstract

IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF LECTIN EXTRACTED FROM BARK OF THE BLACK MULBERRY (MORUS NIGRA)

Youcef Necib*, Ahlem Bahi, Nesrine Derri, Fateh Merouane, Hala Bouadi and Khaled Boulahrouf 

Abstract

A lectin present in the Morus Nigra was extracted by soluble proteins (crude extract) in phosphate buffer (0.1M, pH 7.2). The lectin agglutinated specifically rabbit erythrocytes. The hemagglutinating activity assay showed that the lectin was shown an agglutination to A blood human group. Extracted lectin of Morus Nigra showed thermo stability in more than 100°C. However, the lectin was stable in the PH ranged between 3 to12 and was showen to be inhibited by the glycoproteins fetuin and casein and by the sugars D-glucosamine, xylose and galacto-pyranose. Immunomodulatory activity of extracted lectins from Morus Nigra was evaluated on phagocytic activity by carbon clearance test. Adult Albinos Wistar mice randomly divided into four groups, were the first was served as a control, while the remaining groups respectively treated with extracted lectins from Morus Nigra at dose of: 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg by intra-peritoneal injection (IP). Change in phagocytic activity was determined after 48 h injection of carbon ink suspension. In carbone clearance test, extracted lectins from Morus Nigra exhibited significantly phagocytic index dose-dependent against control group, indicating stimulation of the reticulo-endothelial system. Present study thus reveals that extracted lectins from Morus Nigra holds promise as immunomodulatory agent, which act by stimulating dose dependent phagocytic function.

Keywords: Immunomodulatory, Carbon Clearance rate, Morus Nigra.