The effects of the methanol extract of Spirostachys venenifera Pax (SVP) on
the immune response in mice was investigated. Keyhole limpet haemocyanin (
KLH) was the antigen, An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used
to monitor serum antibody levels in mice exposed to various doses of SVP a
t a dosage of 0.1 mg/Kg, In mice in vivo, SVP caused a significant suppress
ion of the immune response compared to control mice that received no SVP, A
haemolytic plaque assay was used to monitor the effect of SVP on antibody
producing IP lymphocytes from the peritoneum and from the spleen in vitro.
SVP caused a reduction in the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) at 0.1 u
g/ml with peritoneal B cells. There was further reduction of PFC with highe
r doses of SVP, With the spleen B cells, clear reduction in PFC was seen on
ly with the higher doses of SVP, from 1 ug/ml upwards to 100 ug/ml, The pro
spect of developing a new immunosuppressive agent from SVP is a welcome pos
sibility that cam add to the newer immunosuppressive agents with greater ef
ficacy and less side effects in comparison to the traditional ones.