IMMUNOSTIMULANT ACTIVITY OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS L

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), a plant widely used in the tra ditional medicinal systems of India, has recently been reported to pos sess hepatoprotective, antileishmanial, antiviral and antifungal activ ities. In the present study strong stimulation of antigen specific and non-specific immunity, as evidenced by increases in humoral and delay ed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC ) and in the macrophage migration index (MMI), has been demonstrated i n mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of seeds, flowers and leaves of this plant. Maximum activity was found in the seeds in which the activ e principle(s) appear to be mainly associated with lipids. In flowers and leaves, however, the major activity was found in the aqueous fract ion of the 50% ethanol extract. The immunostimulant substance(s) found in N. arbor-tristis L. are likely to play a role in its antiamoebic, antileishmanial, antiviral and certain other activities.