Immunostimulant activity of picroliv, the iridoid glycoside fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa, and its protective action against Leishmania donovani infection in hamsters

• Published in: Planta medica Vol. 58; no. 6; p. 528
• Main Authors: Puri, A. (ICMR Centre for Advanced Pharmacological Research on Tradiitonal Remedies, Lucknow (India). Central Drug Research Inst.), Saxena, R.P, Sumati, Guru, P.Y, Kulshreshtha, D.K, Saxena, K.C, Dhawan, B.N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.1992
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; chemiluminescence; CHIMIOPREVENTION; Cinnamates - pharmacology; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; Cricetinae; DICOTILEDONEAS; DICOTYLEDONE; FARMACOLOGIA; Female; GLICOSIDOS; GLYCOSIDE; Glycosides - pharmacology; hepatoprotective activity; IMMUNOSTIMULATION; INMUNOESTIMULACION; LEISHMANIA DONOVANI; Leishmania donovani - immunology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - immunology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - prevention & control; Male; Mesocricetus; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; PHARMACOLOGIE; Picroliv; Picrorhiza kurroa; PLANTAS MEDICINALES; PLANTE MEDICINALE; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; PROFILAXIS QUIMICA; PROPIEDADES FISICO-QUIMICAS; PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE; Vanillic Acid - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0032-0943; 1439-0221
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-961542

Picroliv, a standardised fraction from root and rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa, consisting of iridoid glycosides and shown to be responsible for its hepatoprotective activity, was studied for immunostimulant activity. Oral administration of Picroliv (1O mg/kg x 7 days) in mice prior to immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) resulted in a significant increase in haemagglutinating antibody titre, plaque forming cells, and delayed hypersensitivity response to SRBC. Picroliv enhanced the non-specific immune response characterized by an increase in macrophage migration index, [(l4)C]-glucosamine uptake, phagocytosis of [(14)C]-leucine labelled Escherichia coli, chemiluminescence of peritoneal macrophages, and higher uptake of [(3)H]-thymidine in the lymphocytes of treated mice. lt also induced a high degree of protection in golden hamsters against challenge infection with Leishmania donovani promastigotes.