Immune-modulating activity of a dry extract from Silene jeniseensis Willd in experimental immunodeficiency

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immune-modulating effect of a dry extract from Silene jeniseensis Willd on cellular and humoral immune responses in cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression. Methods. The experiments were performed on 60 F1 male mice (CBAxC57Bl/6) weighing 18‒20 g. Immune deficiency was modeled by a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 250 mg/kg. The experimental group of animals received the dry extract from Silene jeniseensis Willd once a day at a dose of 100 mg/kg, intragastrically, for 14 days in the conditions of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression. The intact group was administered with purified water on the same protocol. The effect of dry extract on cellular immunity was evaluated by the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction according to the standard method of local DTH. State of the humoral immunity was evaluated by the number of antibody-forming cells (AFC) using the A.J. Cunningham (1965) method of local hemolysis. Results. The treatment with the dry extract from Silene jeniseensis Willd significantly reduced the suppressive effect of the cytostatic cyclophosphamide on the DTH reaction and antibody response. The tested remedy increased the DTHindex (1.6 times) and the absolute and relative numbers of AFC (1.5 and 1.7 times, respectively) compared to the control group. Conclusion. The dry extract from Silene jeniseensis Willd showed a pronounced immune-modulating activity in cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression and therefore, is promising as a new and effective immune modulator.