Effect of Methanolic Extract of Aloe vera on Immunomodulatory Activity in Wistar Rats

Background: To evaluate the Immunomodulatry activity of methanolic extract of Aloe vera in Wistar rats. Methods: Eighteen clinically healthy wistar rats were divided into three groups consisting of six rats in each group. Group I treated with normal saline, Group II with 0.8% SRBC as antigen 5th day as sensitizing and 10th day as challenging dose, Group III antigen with methanolic extract of Aloe vera Orally @ 200mg/kg.body wt. consecutive for 5 days during sensitizing and challenging dose. The immunological parameters were evaluated with haemagglutination (HA) test for humoural immune response (HIR) whereas delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) for evaluating cell mediated immune response (CMIR). DTH was assessed by injecting 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) in the foot paw region as well as by absolute lymphocyte count. Result: Methanolic extract of Aloe vera gel showed significant effect on humoural immune response as assessed by HA test. Antibody titre were found to be significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in Aloe vera treated group (1.35402 ± 0.205) as compared to antigen treated (0.60201±0.076) group.DTH assessed by injecting 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) mitogen was also found to be significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in aloe vera treated group (3.012 ± 0.15* mm) as compared to antigen treated (0.482 ± 0.04 mm). Methanolic extract of Gel of Aloe vera exhibited immunomodulatory activity with respect to cell mediated immune response in wistar rats.