IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BITTER GOURD [MOMORDICA CHARANTIA] IN EXPERIMENTAL MODELS

Abstract

Ethanolic Extract of Momordica Charantia, commonly known in India as bitter gourd is used to verify its immunomodulatory activities.Immunomodulatory  activity of ethanolic extract at dosese of 25,50 and 100mg/kg body weight  for 5 days was evaluated on body weight, relative organ weight, delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) response and haemagglutination titre (HT) in Male Charles Foster rats. No significant weight gain difference was recorded in varius groups of animals. Significant increase in DTH response at the dose of 50mg/kg .In the HT test, plant xetract showed stimulatory effect in all doses.  This change was significant at 50mg/kg body weight. No mortality occurred in tested doses.Thus bitter gourd or Momordica Charantia showed a stimulatory effect on both humoral and cellular functions in mice.

Key words: Momordica Charantia,DTH, Haemagglutination titre, Immunity response, Toxicity