Immuno-modulatory activity of Triguna Makaradhwaja ─ An Ayurvedic compound formulation

The present study was carried out to evaluate immuno-modulatory activity of Triguna Makaradhwaja for humoral antibody formation and cell mediated immunity in established experimental models. Study was carried out in Wistar strain albino rats of either sex and test drug was administered orally at a dose of 3.15 mg/kg along with Guduchi Ghana and honey as adjuvant. Effect of test formulation on anti-body formation against sheep red blood cells was assessed for humoral antibody formation. The test drug and vehicles were administered for 10 consecutive days. On third day, 20% SRBC (Sheep Red Blood Cells) as sensitizing agent was injected subcutaneously to the rats of second, third and fourth groups in the dose of 0.5ml/100 g of body weight. Animals were sacrificed on 11 day. Parameters like haemagglutination titre; haematological, serum biochemical and histology of spleen, thymus and lymph nodes were studied to assess the effect on for humoral immunity. Immunological paw oedema was assessed for cell mediated immunity. Animals were sensitized with triple antigen subcutaneously on first day and the drug administration was continued for seven days. On 7 day animals were challenged with the same antigen by injecting to left hind paw and volume of immunological oedema thus produced was measured by volume displacement method after 24 and 48 hours. Triguna Makaradhwaja apparently enhanced antibody formation and cellularity of immunological organs, while it failed to show any significant impact on immunologically induced paw oedema. This study shows that Triguna Makaradhwaja is having marked immunostimulant effect and weak effect on cell mediated immunity (CMI). The adjuvant Guduchi Ghana and honey per se has immune-potentiating activity and it seems to be added to the therapeutic activity of the main drug.