Abstract

Objective: To confirm the ethnomedicinal claim of Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir as immune enhancer. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of fruits and leaves of the plant were evaluated for immunostimulant activity on albino mice at the dose levels of 1 00 and 200 mg/kg orally. The assessment of immunostimulant activity on specific and non-specific immunity was studied by neutrophil adhesion test, carbon clearance test and cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression. Cyclophosphamide (30 mg/kg) was used to induce immunosuppresion in mice and levamisole (50 mg/kg) was used as immunostimulating agent. Results: Oral administration of both the doses of fruit and leaf extracts showed significant increase in phagocytic activity (***P<0.001) and the percentage of neutrophil adhesion (**P<0.01). Significant increase in white blood cell (*P<0.05, **P<0.01) count was seen on administration of both the doses of fruits and leaves extracts. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that both the plant parts triggers specific and non-specific responses and thus reveals a promise to hold immunostimulant activity.

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