MVSc

The immunomodulatory activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of
Emblica offictnalis was investigated on the basis of their effects on humoral, cell
mediated and cellular immune mechanism in mice. The extracts were also
qualitatively tested for the presence of various active principles in it. One hundred
and forty four mice taken for the study were divided into two in which one group
was tested with alcoholic extract while the other with aqueous extract. The extracts
were fed at two dose levels ie, l00mg and 200 mg/kg bodyweight for 19 days. The
controls in both groups received vehicle alone (five percent gum acacia).
Various physiological, biochemical, haematological and immunological
parameters like bodyweight, organ weight, total leukocyte count, differential
leukocyte count, serum total protein, serum globulin, Haemagglutination (HA) titre,
Delayed Type of Hypersensitivity (DTH), Macrophage Migration Index (MMI) and
NitroBlue Tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction test were performed for evaluating the
immunomodulatory potential of the extract.
Both the extracts were found to increase the bodyweight and spleen weight
significantly when fed at a higher dose rate of 200mglkg for 19 days. The total
leukocyte count was increased to a maximum of 13.9O±2.05 and 12.77±<>.78
xI03/cu.mm respectively in aqueous and alcoholic extract treated groups on 1~ day
of experiment, compared to control groups (7.l8±<>.72 and 7.IS± 0.72). Lymphocytic
leukocytosis was seen after drug treatment.
Serum total protein and globulin levels were also increased by the
administration of extracts of Emblica. The drug administration increased the globulin
concentration to 1.88±<>.42 and 1.97±0.21goA» on 19th day for alcoholic and aqueous
extract treated groups respectively which was significantly higher than the control
groups.
The increase in HA antibody titre indicated the augmentation of humoral
immune response to SRBC by Emblica officina/is. Administration of Amla extracts

significantly increased cell mediated immune response as evidenced by increase in
DTH response.
Both the extracts were found to increase the macrophage migration area to
10.93±2.21 and 11.87±3.54 mm' in aqueous and alcoholic extract treated group
respectively on 19th day of experiment compared to the controls (5.33±1.61 and
4.78±2.18). Thus a 1.5 to 2.5 fold increase in MMI could be noticed. The results of
NBT test gave a maximum of 53.28 percent increase in respiratory burst activity of
macrophage in aqueous extract treated group while the alcoholic extract treated
group had a maximum of 46.04 percent increase from their controls.
The phytochemical study of the Emblica extracts revealed the presence of
active principles like tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, diterpenes, triterpenes
and saponins in it.
Thus the present study establishes the positive immunomodulatory activity of
dried Emblica officinalis fruit pulp extracts, in a concentration dependent manner
acting via humoral, cell mediated and cellular immune response.