Unveiling the Immunostimulatory Potential of Rhus Toxicodendron in Immunocompromised Balb/C Mice Induced with Cyclophosphamide
Vara Prasad Saka,
Narasimha Kumar G. V.,
Bharat Kumar Reddy Sanapalli,
Abanti Goswami,
Anirban Roy,
Anurag Agrawal,
Pankaj Gupta,
Digvijay Verma,
Subhash Kaushik
Affiliations
Vara Prasad Saka
Department of Pharmacology, Drug Standardization, Dr. Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Kolkata 700035, West Bengal, India
Narasimha Kumar G. V.
Department of Pharmacology, Drug Standardization, Dr. Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Kolkata 700035, West Bengal, India
Bharat Kumar Reddy Sanapalli
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Deemed-to-be-University, Jadcherla 509301, Hyderabad, India
Abanti Goswami
Department of Pharmacology, Drug Standardization, Dr. Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Kolkata 700035, West Bengal, India
Anirban Roy
Virology Laboratory, Dr. Anjali Chatterji Regional Research Institute for Homeopathy, Rajendra Chatterjee Road, Kolkata 700035, West Bengal, India
Anurag Agrawal
Department of Pharmacology, Ram-Eesh Institute of Vocational and Technical Education, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pankaj Gupta
Department of Pharmacology, Drug Standardization, Dr. D P Rastogi Central Research Institute for Homeopathy, Under Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Noida 201301, Uttar Pradesh, India
Digvijay Verma
Drug Standardization, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Janakpuri 110058, New Delhi, India
Subhash Kaushik
Director General, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Governmentof India, Janakpuri 110058, New Delhi, India
This study investigated how Rhus toxicodendron (RT) (6C, 30C, and 200C) can boost the immune system of BALB/c mice that were given cyclophosphamide (CPM), which is an anticancer drug that weakens the immune system. RT, known for its historical use in traditional homeopathic remedies, has demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in various experimental models. To test the immune-boosting effects of RT, CPM (80 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally to mice on days 4, 8, and 12 of the study but not to the normal control group. CPM-induced immunosuppression led to significant decreases in red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and reduced spleen and thymus indices. Phagocytic activity, cytokine concentrations, and spleen architecture were also adversely affected. RT treatment, particularly at 200C, significantly ameliorated these effects, improving RBC, WBC, and Hb levels. Furthermore, RT partially prevented CPM-induced atrophy of immune organs. Treatment positively influenced cytokine production at both the protein and mRNA levels, restoring immune balance. Histopathological results confirmed that RT stimulated the immune system. The cells were more stable, and the white pulp in the spleen was arranged in a regular pattern. These findings suggest that RT may serve as an adjunctive immunostimulant therapy for conditions characterized by immunosuppression. However, further investigations in other immunocompromised states must validate these results before considering human clinical trials.