Full Length Research Paper

Enhanced Phagocytosis and Antibody Production by Tinospora cordifolia - A new dimension in Immunomodulation

M. S. Ranjith¹*, A.J.A. Ranjitsingh², S. Gokul Shankar³, G. S. Vijayalaksmi⁵, K. Deepa⁵ and Harcharan Singh Sidhu¹

¹Microbiology Unit, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.

²Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology, Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, India.

³R and D Center, Cholayil Private Limited, Chennai, India.

⁴Sri Paramakalyani Center for Environmental Sciences, M.S. University, Tirunelveli, India.

⁵Anatomy Unit, AIMST University, Kedah, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: msranjith@yahoo.com. Phone: +6 016 4083740.

Accepted 18 December, 2007

Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi) is a widely used shrub in ayurvedic systems of medicine known to possess immunomodulatory properties. In the present study the aqueous extract of T. cordifolia was found to enhance phagocytosis in vitro. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts also induced an increase in antibody production in vivo.

Key words: Immunomodulation, phagocytosis assay, Tinospora cordifolia.