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Planta Med 1992; 58(6): 528-532
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-961542
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Immunostimulant Activity of Picroliv, the Iridoid Glycoside Fraction of Picrorhiza kurroa, and its Protective Action against Leishmania donovani Infection in Hamsters1

Anju Puri, R. P. Saxena,  Sumati, P. Y. Guru, D. K. Kulshreshtha, K. C. Saxena, B. N. Dhawan
  • ICMR Centre for Advanced Pharmacological Research on Traditional Remedies, Central Drug Research Institute, Post Box No. 173, Lucknow 226001 (U.P.), India
1. CDRI Communication No. 4897
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Publication History

1991

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

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 (10 mg/kg × 7 days) in mice prior to immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) resulted in a significant increase in haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre, plaque forming cells (PFC), and delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) response to SRBC. Picroliv enhanced the non-specific immune response characterized by an increase in macrophage migration index (MMI), [14 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. It also induced a high degree of protection in golden hamsters against challenge infection with Leishmania donovani promastigotes.

Key words

Picrorhiza kurroa - Picroliv - immunostimulation - Leishmania donovani - chemiluminescence - hepatoprotective activity

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