Luteolin & Apigenin Attenuates Cytokine, Corticosterone Level & Stress Induced Immunomodulatory Changes In Rats

AIM- The aim of present investigation is to study the protective effect of bioactive flavonoids in stress induced Immunomodulatory changes in rats. MATERIAL & METHODS- Luteolin and Apigenin were procured from the Yucca Chemicals, Mumbai as a gift sample and were analyzed for preliminary parameters for the identification. The procedure for inducing stress, i.e. exposure to restraint and forced swimming exercise. Initial body weight of each rat was recorded before the commencement of the experiment. After the treatment period rats were sacrificed. At autopsy, rats were weighed; blood was drawn by heart puncture and used for hematological studies and isolation of PBMC. The serum was separated from the blood and stored (-20°C) for the estimation of serum concentrations of corticosterone, IL-10, IL-12, total immunoglobulin content and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). RESULT- The body weight showed a significant decrease in stressed rats compared to controls, whereas body weight of both flavonoids pretreated rats exposed to stressors did not differ from controls. The relative weight of spleen and thymus significantly decreased in stressed rats compared to controls and both flavonoids pretreated rats exposed to stressors. There was a significant increase in the relative weight and serum concentration of corticosterone in stressed rats compared to controls and those treated with both flavonoids prior to expose to stressors. The total immunoglobulin content in stressed rats was significantly lower than controls and both flavonoids pretreated rats exposed to stressors. CONCLUSION- There was a decrease in relative weight and total immunoglobulin content, serum level of IL-12 in stressed rats compared to those of controls.