www.ijpsonline.com thymol, p-cymene, g-terpinene and other constituents Essential Oil of Thymus serpyllum L. Growing Wild in Vilnius (Lithuania). J Essent Oil Res 2004;16:236-8. of T. vulgaris due to season of harvesting is reported 10. Nickavar B, Mojab F, Dolat-Abadi R. Analysis of the essential oils of from Brazil where higher oil content and oxygenated two Thymus species from Iran. Food Chem 2005;90:609-11. compounds were found in spring[22]. 11. Mathela CS, Agarwal J, Taskinen J. Composition of essential oil of Thymus serpyllum Linn. J Ind Chem Soc 1980;57:1249-50. 12. Verma RS, Rahman L, Chanotiya CS, Verma RK, Singh A, Yadav On the basis of these results it is concluded that A, et al. Essential oil composition of Thymus serpyllum cultivated in harvesting season had considerable effect of essential the Kumaon region of western Himalaya, India. Nat Prod Commun oil yield and composition of T. serpyllum growing 2009;4:987-8. 13. Kulevanova S, Ristic M, Stafilov T, Dorevski K, Ristov T. Essential oil in Kumaon region of western Himalaya. Therefore, analysis of some taxa of genera Thymus L. - environmental influences. harvesting of T. serpyllum should be done in summer Bull Chem Technol Macedonia 1996;15:33-8. season to achieve better essential oil yield. 14. Ebrahimi SN, Hadian J, Mirjalili MH, Sonboli A, Yousefzadi M. Essential oil composition and antibacterial activity of Thymus caramanicus at different phenological stages. Food Chem 2008;110:927-31. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 15. Loziene K, Vaiciuniene J, Venskutonis PR. Chemical composition of the essential oil of creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum s.l.) growing wild in Lithuania. Planta Med 1998;64:772-3. Authors thank the Director, Central Institute of Medicinal 16. Raal A, Paaver U, Arak E, Orav A. Content and composition of the and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for essential oil of Thymus serpyllum growing wild in Estonia. Medicina providing financial support under Young Scientist Project (Kaunas) 2004;40:795-800. (YSP09.19). 17. Sefidkon F, Dabiri M, Mirmostafa SA. The composition of Thymus serpyllum L. oil. J Essent Oil Res 2004;16:184-6. 18. Paaver U, Orav A, Arak E, Maeorg U, Raal A. Phytochemical analysis REFERENCES of the essential oil of Thymus serpyllum L. growing wild in Estonia. Nat Prod Res 2008;22:108-15. 1. Stahl-Biskup E, Saez F. Thyme. The genus Thymus. London: Taylor 19. Jennings W, Shibamoto T. Qualitative analysis of flavour and fragrance and Francis; 2002. volatile by glass capillary gas chromatography. New York: Academic 2. Mukerjee SK. A revision of the Labiatae of the Indian empire. Rec Bot Press; 1980. Surv India 1940;14:93. 20. Adams RP. Identification of essential oil components by gas 3. Davidson PM, Naidu AS. Phyto-phenols. In: Naidu AS, editor. Natural chromatograph/mass spectrometry. Carol Stream, USA: Allured food antimicrobial systems. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press; 2000. p. Publishing Corporation; 1995. 265-294. 21. Poulose AJ, Croteau R. Biosynthesis of aromatic monoterpenes- 4. Bauer KD, Grabe H, Surburg H. Common fragrance and flavour conversion of gamma-terpinene to para-cymene and thymol in Thymus materials. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag; 1997. vulgaris L. Arch Biochem Biophys 1978;187:307-14. 5. Lawrence BM. Progress in essential oils. Perf Flav 1981;23:63-82. 22. Atti-Santos AC, Pansera MR, Paroul N, Atti-Serafini L, Moyna 6. Lawrence BM. Progress in essential oils. Perf Flav 1998;6:27-34. P. Seasonal variation of essential oil yield and composition of 7. Garcia-Martin D, Garcia-Vallejo MC. Chemotypes of Thymus zygis Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) from south Brazil. J Essent Oil Res (Lofl.) L., of Guadarrama Sierra and other places in Castile (Spain). 2004;16:294-5. 9th International Congress of Essential oils, Mandarin Court B, Singapore;14-17 March 1983. Accepted 17 March 2011 8. Sajjadi SE, Khatamsaz M. Composition of the essential oil of Thymus Revised 17 February 2011 daenensis Celak. Sp lancifolium (Celak) Jalas. J Essent Oil Res 2003;15:34-5. Received 19 May 2010 9. Mockute D. 1,8-Cineole - Caryophyllene Oxide Chemotype of Indian J. Pharm. Sci., 2011, 73 (1): 233-235 Immunomodulatory Potential of Methanol Extract of Aegle marmelos in Animals H. V. GOVINDA AND S. M. B. ASDAQ* Department of Phaarmacology, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Varthur Hobli, Chikkabellandur Village, Carmalaram Post, Bangalore-560 035, India Govinda and Asdaq: Immunomodulatory activity of Aegle marmelos *Address for correspondence E-mail: [email protected] March - April 2011 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 235 www.ijpsonline.com The aim of the current research was to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos in an experimental animal model of cellular and humoral immunity. Administration of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos (500 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and Ocimum sanctum (100 mg/kg, p.o.), produced significant increase in adhesion of neutrophils and an increase in phagocytic index in carbon clearance assay. Both doses of Aegle marmelos prevented the mortality induced by bovine Pasteurella multocida in mice. Moreover, all treated groups demonstrated significant elevation in circulating antibody titre in the indirect haemagglunation test. From the above results, it can be concluded that methanol extract of Aegle marmelos possess immunomodulatory potential by stimulating cellular and humoral immune mechanisms. However, low dose of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos was more effective for augmenting cellular immunity, whereas, high dose was more inclined towards humoral immunity. Key words: Aegle marmelos, carbon clearance, cellular immunity, haemagglunation test, humoral immunity, mice lethality, neutrophil adhesion Irreversible unwanted and intolerable effects of Components such as polysaccharides, lectins, proteins conventional drugs and therapies might the underlying and peptide present in plants like Viscum album, reason for an intense research in alternative systems Panax ginseng, Tinospora cardifolia, Aspargus of medicine. Medicinal plants and its products have racemosus, have been shown to stimulate the immune been explored for variety of acute and chronic system[19]. Therefore, the chemical profile may suggest diseases across the globe. A number of ayurvedic that Aegle marmelos would be a good source of formulations containing one or more medicinal plants immunomodulatory agent. However, as of now, no have been exploited for modulation of immune biological study is performed demonstrating the system. Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae) is commonly immunostimulatory role of the plant. Hence, present called Bael, found in the dry deciduous forests of research work was designed to study the status Himalayas[1]. Traditionally, various parts of the plant of immune system in animals subjected to Aegle are used to treat abdomen pain, palpitation of the marmelos leaves extract using models of cellular and heart and urinary troubles. According to Bhumkas humoral immunity in animals. (local healers) of Patalkot valley in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, it acts as laxative and Laboratory bred Wistar rats (180-200 g) and febrifuge when taken fresh; it cleans and tones albino mice (20-25 g) of either sex were housed in up the intestines. Root and bark cures intermittent polypropylene cages, maintained under standardized fever. An infusion of Bael leaves is regarded as condition (12 h light/dark cycles, 28±2°) with paddy an effective remedy for peptic ulcer[2]. The plant husk bedding at the central animal house, Krupanidhi is reported to possess antiinflammatory, antipyretic College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, provided with and analgesic[3,4], antidiabetic[5-7], antidiarrhoeal[8], standard pellet food and had free access to purified antihyperlipidemic[9], antifungal[10], antimicrobial, drinking water ad libitum. The guidelines of the antiparasitic[11], anticancer[12], antimalarial[13] and committee for the purpose of control and supervision hepatoproctective activities[14]. It has been reported of experiments on animals (CPCSEA) were followed that a furanocoumarin marmesinin isolated from Aegle and prior permission was sought from the institutional marmelose exerted the protective effect against the animal ethics committee for conducting the present damage caused by experimental myocardial injury[15]. study (KCP/IAEC-25/2008-09). Environmental pollutants and dietary habits are Aegle marmelos leaves were collected from the reported to influence the activity of immune system fields of Mandya, Karnataka, India. The plant were and diet containing micronutrients and antioxidants identified and authenticated by Regional Research are known to enhance the immune system[16]. From Institute (RRCBI-Mus/06, Bangalore, India). The earlier studies it is evident that, the leaf extract of leaves were given to Phytotech Extracts Pvt. Ltd. Aegle marmelos, by its free-radical scavenging activity (Bangalore, India) to get methanol leaf extract of possess the radioprotective effect in mice[17]. Literature Aegle marmelos (LEAM). Percent yield of the study revealed the presence of many functional and extract was 17% w/w. The extract was subjected bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, phenolics, to preliminary phytochemical analysis. The ethanol alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other extract of Ocimum sanctum (Natural remedies) was antioxidants in the leaf extract of Aegle marmelos[18]. used as standard immunomodulatory agent. 236 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences March - April 2011 www.ijpsonline.com