ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of methanolic extract of Gongronema latijblium (utazi) on wistar albino rats. A total of sixteen (16) Wistar albino rats were used for the study and divided into four (4) groups of four (4) rats each. The normal control was administered normal saline while the negative control was administered pyrogallol in order to suppress the immune system. The treated rats were administered 200 mg/kg body weight and 400 mg/kg body weight of the plant extract and 2% pyrogallol to represent the low and high doses respectively. These administrations lasted 21 days after which blood was drawn through ocular puncture and serum collected for the assay. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated on haematological indices (packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total white blood cell count), cytokine expressions (interleukine-2, interferon-i and tumour necrosis factor), haemaglutination titre (primary and secondary hurnoral antibody) and the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). No significant (p>O.05) differences were observed in the haematological indices. Significant (p<O.05) increase was seen in the interferon- , while a non-significant (p<O.05) increase was obtained in tumour necrosis factor- and interleukine-2. The primary and secondary antibody titre showed significant (p<O.05) increases and the delayed type hypersensitivity also indicated a significant (p<O.05) increase. These comparisons were made against the negative control. This study suggests that the extract of G. lat'folium possess immunostimulatory effect and its implication is that it is good for consumption as it helps the immune system fight against diseases.