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There are number of medicinal plant products (leaves, root, stem bark, seeds etc.) including its metabolites i.e. primary (protein) and secondary (flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides etc.) that have been used as immunomodulatory (stimulatory, suppressive or adjuvant) agents. For the last several years, researchers focused on various immunopharmacological aspects especially its therapeutic action of these medicinal plants against various diseases. The objective of our study was to identify and evaluate the action of aqueous leaves extract from these medicinal plants i.e. Azadirachta indica, Syzygium cumini and Prosopis spicigera on the development of spleen cells (ex vivo cellular proliferation assay) from mice using hepatitis B vaccine containing surface antigen (HBsAg; 20 μg/ml) and also estimated its pro-inflammatory (IFN-gamma and TNF alpha) cytokines from spleen cell culture supernatant. For these studies, mice were immunized subcutaneously with HBsAg on day 0. After three days, spleens were excised aseptically and prepared single cell suspension (106 cells/ml) using variable doses of aqueous leaves extract (0.625-5 mg; 50 μl) incubated with or without HBsAg. After 48 h, cell culture supernatant was collected for the estimation of Th1 (IFN-gamma and TNF alpha) cytokines. However, cell proliferation was revealed by blue tetrazolium reduction assay (MTT) and cytokines by ELISA. The results showed these aqueous leaves extracts showed dose-dependent reduction of cell proliferation including pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, these medicinal plants showed immunosuppressive activity in ex vivo murine model based studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As per the literature, medicinal plants showed enormous candidates who is responsible or showing antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory agents etc. Most of the research group focused only on those primary and secondary metabolites extracted from different medicinal plants and showed its antimicrobial (antiviral) activity against dreadful pathogens. The objective of our current study is to evaluate the cytotoxic and antiviral effect of aqueous leaves extract of Acacia catechu against new castle disease Virus (NDV) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). For these studies, variable doses of aqueous leaves extract of Acacia catechu (0.5-30mg/mL, 50µL; dissolved in phosphate buffered saline, PBS) and examined its proliferation assay containing NDV and also determined CD14 monocyte surface marker in presence or absence of NDV using flow cytometry. The results showed that aqueous leaves extract of Acacia catechu inhibited NDV proliferation and also decline in CD14 monocyte surface marker with or without NDV at higher doses. Overall, aqueous extract of Acacia catechu at higher doses showed cytotoxic as well as antiviral effect and might be used for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In India, dairy industries are important for the livelihood of small scale farmers and dairy owners. Tropical theileriosis, mostly affecting dairy cattle and buffaloes is a major threat to dairy and related industries. Tropical theileriosis is caused by Theileria annulata, a hemoprotozoan parasite transmitted by Ixodid ticks of Hyalomma spp. In the present study, we examined the clinical signs, hematological parameters and flow cytometric profile of whole blood in 30 theileriosis affected crossbred cattle. The aim of our study is to analyze, in comparison with clinical and hematological diagnosis, whether flow cytometry based profiling of leukocytes could be used as better, quick and alternative method for diagnosis and screening of bovine tropical theileriosis in crossbred cattle. Materials and Methods: In this study, we screened parasites in 30 peripheral blood samples from clinical cases of theileriosis by Giemsa's staining technique in crossbred cattle. Hematological analysis was done to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) content, total red blood cell (RBC) count, total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count. Further, flow cytometric analysis of whole blood was carried out to study leukocytes profile in affected cattle. Results: Microscopic examination of stained blood films revealed the presence of piroplasms in erythrocytes and schizonts in lymphocytes. Hematological examination revealed significant (p<0.05) decrease of Hb percent (Hb %), reduced total RBC and total leukocytes, lymphocytosis, eosinopenia, and neutropenia compared to that of apparently healthy cattle. Flow cytometric profiling of leukocytes revealed the severe effect on shape, size, and granularity of leukocytes, marked decrease in granulocytes and 3-5 fold increase in lymphocytes count compared to clinically healthy cattle. Thus, in both methods, namely conventional and flow cytometric analysis, marked lymphocytosis and decrease in other blood cell counts were observed compared to clinically healthy cattle. Conclusions: From results, it can be concluded that though conventional staining techniques and hematology are efficient in diagnosis of theileriosis, leukocytes profiling based on flow cytometry combined with clinical examination could be a quick, novel and alternative method for diagnosis and screening of clinical tropical theileriosis in crossbred cattle. Thus, there is potential to offer a flow cytometry based diagnostic service for tropical theileriosis in crossbred cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to present the available in vitro evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of Mesua ferrea and examine their potential usefulness in the human ailments or infections. In the last three decades, there are number of primary as well as secondary metabolites or aqueous extract isolated from the leaves, root and stem of medicinal plants and used as a source of therapeutic agents. The most promising anti-inflammatory activities of these aqueous extract isolated from the roots of Mesua ferrea. Human whole blood were treated with variable doses of aqueous extract (0.5 - 30 mg/ml) and evaluated the lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes count using flow cytometry and observed the monocyte marker i.e. CD14 marker and TNF alpha in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also determined its hemolytic activity. The results showed that the aqueous extract showed increased in the lymphocytes count and reduction of granulocytes and monocytes level which is evidenced through the decline of CD14 surface marker and TNF alpha which are the indicators of inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. At high doses of aqueous extract i.e. 30 mg/ml showed hemolytic activity. The results showed that the root aqueous extract of Mesua ferrea showed anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]