ACTIONS OF SOME FLAVONOIDS ON SPECIFIC AND NONSPECIFIC IMMUNE-MECHANISMS

The immunomodulatory activity of some flavonoids on antigen specific h umoral and cell mediated immune responses and complement-mediated hemo lysis has been investigated and compared with that of levamisole. Flav anone, 6-methoxyflavanone, 7-methoxyflavanone and bavachinin enhanced the sheep erythrocyte (SRBC), induced primary and secondary humoral im mune responses in mice, and 6-hydroxyflavanone, 7-hydroxyflavanone and rutin inhibited primary response. Levamisole slighly stimulated the p rimary and suppressed the secondary response. All the flavonoids teste d decreased the manifestation of SRBC induced delayed type hypersensit ivity reaction and showed no effect on classical or alternative pathwa y dependent hemolysis. The studies revealed the significant immunomodu latory potential of these flavonoids, methoxy derivatives having immun ostimulatory activity and hydroxy derivatives immunosuppressive proper ties.