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Vara Prasad Saka ¹, G. V. Narasimha Kumar ¹, Abanti Goswami ¹, Digvijay Verma ², Pankaj Gupta ³

Affiliations
1 Drug Standardization Department, Dr Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Kolkata - 700035, West Bengal, IN
2 Drug Standardization Department, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, New Delhi - 110058, IN
3 Drug Standardization Department, Dr D P Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Noida - 201301, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Background: Immunomodulation encompasses all therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying the immune response. The immune response augments are desirable to prevent infection in immunodeficiency states and fight established diseases. In this context, the present study investigated the effect of the homeopathic medicine, Camphora, in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies on immunomodulation in experimental animals. The acute oral toxicity study was also carried out in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies to determine the safe dose volume for the immunomodulatory study. Methodology: Acute oral toxicity studies of Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies were carried out as per OECD guideline 423 with slight modifications in Wistar albino rats. Humoral immunity, i.e., primary and secondary humoral responses, was assessed by measuring the hemagglutination titre of sheep red blood cells. Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) was evaluated by measuring footpad thickness in BALB/c mice. Results: Camphora in 6CH, 30CH and 200CH potencies at a dose volume of 2000 µl/kg did not cause any mortality in the rats when administered as a single dose. Camphora in 6CH, 30CH and 200CH potencies showed augmented primary and secondary humoral responses against the SRBC antigen in BALB/c mice. However, the values were statistically non-significant except in the case of 6 CH potency (p<0.01), which showed statistically significant primary anti-SRBC antibodies. In the DTH assay, Camphora in 6CH, 30CH and 200CH potencies significantly decreased the paw volume ratio after 24 hrs of SRBC injection in the paw, thus insinuating its role in reducing cell-mediated immunity. Camphora in 6CH, 30CH and 200CH potencies also showed enhanced antibody titres and decreased paw volume compared to vehicle control, i.e. dispensing alcohol, suggesting that the effect was imminent because of Camphora. Conclusion: The study results indicate that Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200 CH potencies is safe up to a dose volume of 2000 µl/kg when administered as a single dose, augments the primary and secondary humoral immunity, and decreases DTH in experimental animals. The current study’s findings suggest that Camphora might be useful as an immunomodulator in treating immune system disorders and infectious diseases and require further investigation to investigate its mechanism of action.

Keywords

Camphora, Cell-mediated Immunity, Delayed Type Hypersensitivity, Homeopathic Medicine, Humoral Immunity, Immunomodulation

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G. V. Narasimha Kumar ¹, Chitra Vellapandian ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai - 603203, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Sargassum tenerrimum is a marine brown algae rich in phlorotannins, a class of marine polyphenols with significant biological activities. The present study aimed to prepare a phlorotannin-rich fraction from S. tenerrimum (PST) and evaluate its acute and subacute oral toxicity in Wistar albino rats according to the procedures and methods of the OECD test guidelines for acute and repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity studies. S. tenerrimum powder was extracted with ethanol and further fractionated with ethylacetate, 1-butanol, and water. The ethyl acetate fraction was found to have the highest total phlorotannin concentration and was evaluated for its safety. In the acute oral toxicity study, a single dose of PST at 2000 mg/kg body weight did not result in any treatment-related clinical symptoms of toxicity or mortality. Therefore, the median lethal dose (LD50) of PST was identified as greater than 2000 mg/kg. The subacute oral toxicity investigation at 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg doses administered for 28 days with a 14-day recovery period revealed no treatment-related adverse clinical symptoms or mortality/morbidity. The treated animals exhibited normal weight gain, feed intake and did not result in clinically significant toxicity as measured by clinical blood chemistry and hematological markers. Gross and histological examinations of selected tissues did not reveal any notable adverse alterations associated with the intervention. Under the study's findings, the LD50 for PST was determined to be >2000 mg/kg b.wt. and No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) to be 800 mg/kg rat b.wt.

Keywords

Acute Toxicity, Phlorotannins, Polyphenols, Safety, Sargassum tenerrimum, Sub-acute Toxicity

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