EVALUATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF HIBISCUS ROSA SINENSIS (JASWAND) BY ETHANOL-INDUCED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN RATS

The present study was planned to evaluate and compare the immunomodulatory activity of ethyl acetate extract (EAE 100 mg/kg p.o.) and standardized extract of H. rosa sinensis in terms of cyanidin chloride (SEC 4 and 8 mg/kg p.o.) from petals of H. rosa sinensis. Immunosuppression was induced by chronic administration of ethanol whereas treated groups received ethanol concurrently with either extracts or standard drug for 28 days. Biochemical parameters like lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were assessed in blood. Spleen and thymus were examined for histopathology. Chronic administration with ethanol showed drastic decrease in the levels of SOD, CAT and GSH but highly raised levels of LPO. Administration of EAE and SEC restored to near normal the markers of oxidative stress which could further prevent ethanol induced damage due to immunological and oxidative stress.