Augmented humoral immune response and decreased cell-mediated immunity by Aloe vera in rats

• Published in: Inflammopharmacology Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 343 - 346
• Main Authors: Halder, Sumita, Mehta, Ashish K., Mediratta, Pramod K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 01-12-2012
• Subjects: Allergology; Aloe - chemistry; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Dermatology; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - immunology; Gastroenterology; Hemagglutination Tests - methods; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - drug therapy; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - immunology; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunity, Humoral - drug effects; Immunity, Humoral - immunology; Immunology; Male; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rheumatology; Short Communication; Cell-mediated immunity; Humoral immunity
• ISSN: 0925-4692; 1568-5608
• DOI: 10.1007/s10787-012-0134-8

Objective
The present study was performed to explore the effect of aqueous extract of
Aloe vera
on parameters of humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
Materials and methods
Delayed-type hypersensitivity was assessed by measuring foot pad thickness following sensitisation by keyhole limpet haemocyanin injection and subsequently challenged by the same. Humoral immunity was assessed by measurement of haemagglutination titre to sheep red blood cells.
Results
Aloe vera
(400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant decrease in foot pad thickness compared with the control group, and also significantly enhanced the secondary humoral immune response.
Conclusion
Thus, these findings suggest that
A. vera
can modulate immune response by augmenting secondary humoral immunity and decreasing cell-mediated immunity.