Immunomodulatory and antitumour activities of Tinospora cordifolia

Abstract

Administration of Tinospora cordifolia stem methanolic extract to BALB/c mice (200 mg/kg, i.p, daily for 5 days) increased the total white blood cell count significantly (P < 0.001). It also increased bone marrow cellularity (18.16 x 106/femur) and α-esterase positive cells (1423/4000 cells) in bone marrow indicating increased maturation of stem cells. Administration of the extract was also found to significantly increase humoral immune response, as seen from the increase in plaque-forming cells in the spleen (1575 PFC/106 spleen cells) and circulating antibody titre (256), and to produce an enhancement (129%) in macrophage activation. Tinospora extract reduced solid tumour growth and synergistically acted with cyclophosphamide in reducing (83%) the animal tumours.