EVALUATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT FROM RIND OF NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM FRUIT

Objective: Nephelium lappaceum Linn (Sapindaceae), also known as Rambutan is a tropical fruit native to Malaysia. The rind of Rambutan, which is normally discarded, has been used in the present research work to explore the immunomodulatory activity of ethanolic extract and also its protective effect against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced immunosuppression.Methods: The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was carried by testing the humoral (Haemagglutination antibody titre (HA) model), cell-mediated immunity (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction model), haematological parameters, carbon clearance assay (phagocytic index), organ index (spleen and thymus) and histopathological study of mice thymus.Results: Administration of the ethanolic extract significantly increased the antibody titre and DTH response in response to sheep red blood cells when compared to normal control and CP control group. There was a prominent increase in the WBC count, spleen index, thymus index and the phagocytic index in immune suppressed group treated with ethanolic extract of Nephelium lappaceum rind compared to the immune suppressed control group.Conclusion: The result suggests that the ethanolic extract has the potential to modulate the immune system as well has a protective effect against CP-induced immune suppression