Immunomodulators from Medicinal Plants Used in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper reviews the results obtained from a collaborative research project between the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Utrecht to study munomodulating compounds from medicinal plants used in Sri Lanka. The inhibition of the alternative and classical pathways of complement alternation, and the inhibition of chemiluminescence generated by activated polymorphonuclear leucocytes were used as in vitro assays for immunomodulation. Aqueous extracts of Aegle marmelos, Adhathoda vasica, Azadirachta indica, Picrorhiza kurroa and Vernonia cinerea were subjected to study. The anti complementary substances were all macromolecular in nature (poly) (saccharides, peptidoglycans, glycoproteins and p'uanthocyanidins ). Inhibitors of chemiluminescence were mainly pheriolics. Important structural features in the phenolics for the expression of inhibition of chemiluminescence have been identified. In an in vivo model for arthritis, one of the chemiluminescence inhibitors, apocyanin, was shown to be a potent anti-arthritic compound