Mitogens

Andrographolide is a diterpene lactone present in aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata especially in the leaves. It was reported to possess a wide variety of bioactivities. In the present research immunomodulatory effects of pure andrographolide have been studied on chicken spleenocytes in vitro. The immunological intervention of andrographolide was assayed using Nitro Blue Tetrazolium dye reduction assay, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase assay and Macrophage function test. Cytotoxic effects of andrographolide  on spleenocytes were tested using MTT assay. Andrographolide suppressed Nitro Blue Tetrazolium dye reduction assay response at all experimental concentrations. 45% reduction in immune response was observed when spleenocytes were treated with andrographolide at a concentration of 40µg/ml. The overall Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase assay response of spleenocytes get decreased with incorporation of andrographolide in media. It was observed that when spleenocytes were mitogenically stimulated in presence of Covcanavalin A and Phytohaemagglutinin ,the suppression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase assay response was observed. Andrographolide was found to enhance the phagocytic ability of spleenocytes upto 10 folds. It was found to be nontoxic at the concentration of 40µg/ml and 96% of spleenocytes remained viable as estimated by Trypan blue dye exclusion method. It was found to have immunosuppressive properties and it can be used to treat inflammatory disorders such as allergies, rheumatoid arthritis etc.