Immunomodulatory effect of Parkia speciosa Hassk. pods extract on rat induced by Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract

Context: Parkia speciosa, which has phenolic compounds and pharmacology activities, is a plant having potential immunomodulatory agents from the extract of its pod. Aims: To evaluate the potential of P. speciosa as an immunomodulatory agent tested on albino rats induced by the bacteria Salmonella typhimurium leading to typhoid fever. Methods: The animals were divided into six groups: normal non-infected group, negative control group, positive control, and three test groups with doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg BW. The test groups were treated by the extract for 12 days. The control and test groups were induced with the S. typhimurium on the 8th day. On day 12th, CD4+, total leukocytes, differential cell count, and histology of the spleen organ were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way ANOVA followed post hoc LSD test (α 0.05). Results: The result showed that the ethanol extract of P. speciosa pod could increase the number of CD4+. The extract to 200 and 400 mg/kg BW doses increased in the parameters of leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte with insignificant differences compared to that of the positive control group (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences between the two first parameters between the test group with 800 mg/kg BW doses compared to the positive control group. Moreover, more necroses in the spleen were observed from histological analysis on 800 mg/kg BW doses than 400 mg/kg BW. Conclusions: In general, P. speciosa ethanolic extract can increase the immune system based on the CD4+ count, leukocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil, and causes normal necroses in low doses.

Keywords

• parkia speciosa
• immunomodulator
• salmonella typhimurium
• typhoid fever