Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate immunomodulatory activity of polyphenolic fraction of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark (PP-CZ) against infection-related immunocompromised conditions. Materials and methods: The normal and cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced immunocompromised mice were sensitized with SRBCs and PP-CZ (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered orally for 7 days. The haemagglutinin (HA) antibody titres (primary and secondary) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was measured at 7- and 14-days post-immunization, respectively. In separate experiments, effects of PP-CZ on numbers of resident peritoneal macrophages in peripheral blood peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), against host resistance (E coli-induced abdominal sepsis) and phagocytic activity against Candida albicans were evaluated in mice. Results: PP-CZ had shown a stimulatory effect on multiple arms of the immune system in animal models and improves humoral (antibody production), cellular (DTH) and innate (PMN phagocytosis) responses of the immune system, as well as numbers of resident peritoneal macrophages. PP-CZ also protected mice against lethal E. coli abdominal sepsis. Conclusion: PP-CZ demonstrated significant immunomodulatory activity on multiple arms of immunity in normal and infection-related immunocompromised conditions.

Key words: Cinnamomum zeylanicum L ; polyphenols; immunocompromised; phagocytosis