Evaluation of Comparative Immunomodulatory Potential of Solanum xanthocarpum Root and Fruits on Experimental Animal

Aim: This study was aimed to justify the scientific basis in folklore use of Solanum xanthocarpum (solanaceae) as an Immunomodulatory agent in India. Materials and Methods: The ethanol and aqueous extracts of S. xanthocarpum fruit (SXE-1 and SXA-1), root (SXE-2 and SXA-2) and whole plant (SXE-3 and SXA-3) were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity by using cold water swim endurance stress test, delayed type hyper sensitivity reaction, carbon clearance test and CCl4 induced oxidative stress model on experimental animals. The solasodaine content in S. xanthocarpum bioactive test samples were quantified by HPLC to establish phyto-pharmacological relationship. Results: The 200 mg/kg/day p.o. dose of test samples were showed significant changes in swimming survival time and at same doses test samples were significantly increased hypersensitivity, decrease in carbon clearance and reduced oxidative stress. Where, SXE-1 and SXA-1 exhibited maximum degree of immunomodulatory effect compared to SXE-2, SXA-2, SXE-3, SXA-3 and respective standard drugs used in this study. The hematological, biochemical and histopathological studies were supported respective results of the test samples. The solasodaine content in SXA-1 (1.146%), SXE-1 (0.894%), SXE-2 (0.643%) and SXA-2 (0.620%) were estimated by HPLC. Conclusion: These observations established the traditional claim and thus S. xanthocarpum could be a potent immunomodulatory agent for use in near future. The immunostimolatory effect may be due to presence of solasodaine in S. xanthocarpum extracts.