Evaluation of Immunomodulatory Potential and Cytokine Expression Modulation in Chicken Splenocytes upon In Vitro Exposure to Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet
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Date
2023-09-01
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145
Abstract
Traditional herbal immunomodulation has a long-standing history in India and
is increasingly recognized globally. However, the lack of comprehensive understanding
regarding the specific molecular targets and mechanisms involved underscores the
urgent requirement for rigorous scientific validation of the underlying processes
responsible for herbal immunomodulation. Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet under the
family Malvaceae commonly called as ‘Country mallow’ (English), ‘Kanghi’ (Hindi)
and ‘Atibala’ (Sanskrit). The leaves are found to be good for ulcer, inflammatory
conditions and as a fomentation to painful parts of the body. In the light of
aforementioned information, the leaf extract of Abutilon indicum (AIE) was chosen for
investigation in terms of its potential antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects using
a chicken splenocytes culture system. AIE was subjected to various phytochemical
analyses to identify its constituent compounds. To assess antioxidant activity, both in
vitro assays and cell-based assays were conducted. The maximum non-cytotoxic dose
(MNCD) of AIE was determined by giving in vitro exposure of varying concentrations
to chicken splenocytes. This dose was further utilized to give in vitro exposure of AIE
to chicken lymphocytes to explore its immunomodulatory and antioxidant potential
through lymphocyte proliferation assay, cell based antioxidant assays and quantitative
RT-PCR analysis to assess the expression of selected genes.
The phytochemical analyses of AIE revealed the presence of various bioactive
compounds viz, phenolics, falvonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins etc., responsible for
conferring antioxidant property. AIE demonstrated significant antioxidant potential
both in vitro and in the cell-based assays conducted. The LPA assay indicated that AIE
possesses immunopotentiating effects. In terms of gene expression analyses, outcome
of the study revealed that pro-inflammatory genes were downregulated, while antiinflammatory
genes were notably upregulated. The NRF-2 gene, associated with
cellular defense mechanisms, showed increased expression. However, there was a
slight reduction in the transcription of the APAF-1 and CASPASE-3 genes, which are
mediators of apoptosis.
Thus, it can be concluded that the Abutilon indicum leaf extract possesses strong
antioxidant, immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The significant
immunopotentiating and antioxidant potential displayed by the plant extract suggested
its potential utility in the development of herbal preparations aimed at enhancing the
immune system. However, it's crucial to emphasize that further systematic research is
imperative. The characterization of the specific phytoconstituents present in the extract
needs to be explored thoroughly. To validate the findings on a more comprehensive
level, it is recommended to employ suitable biochemical and molecular biology
techniques to analyze the effects at the protein level.
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