Effect of Withania somnifera on cytokine production in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice

Administration of an extract, from the powdered root of the plant Withania somnifera (Family: Solanaceae) :enhanced the levels of Interferon gamma (IF N - gamma) (75.87pg/ml), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) (14.16pg/ml) and Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM -CSF)(49.22pg/ml) in normal Balb/c mice. The lowered levels of IFN gamma - (30pg/ml), IL-2 (4.5pg/ml) and GM CSF (19.12pg/ml) after treatment with cyclophosphamide: (CTX) was reversed by the administration of Withania somnifera extract (IFN gamma - 74pg/ml : IL-2 7.5pg/ml; GM - CSP 35.47pg/ml). Withania extract-lowered the levels of Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production administration of bone marrow cells from donor mice treated with Withania extract increased the sp leen nodular colonies in irradiated mice (8.33) compared to those treated w ith normal bonemarrow cells (3.03). The number of nodular colonies increase d significantly when these animals were continued with Withania extract tre atment. These results indicate the immunopotentiating and myeloprotective e ffect of Withania somnifera as seen from the enhancement of cytokine produc tion and stem cell proliferation and its differentiation.