In-vivo antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of mesuol isolated from Mesua ferrea L. seed oil

Mesua ferrea L. (Nagkesar) is traditionally being used for antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic and antiallergic activities. It is an ingredient of ayurvedic formulations like Brahma Rasayana and Chyavanprash which are being used to improve immunity. The present study was performed to evaluate immunomodulatory activity of mesuol isolated from M. ferrea seed oil in experimental animals. In humoral immune response model, mesuol evoked a significant dose dependent increase in antibody titer values in cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg, i.p., 9th and 16th day) induced immunosuppression which was sensitized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on the 7th and 14th day of experiment. In cellular immune response model, an increase in paw volume was recorded on the 23rd day in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rats treated with SRBC (0.03 ml 2% v/v, s.c.) on the 21st day. Mesuol restored the hematological profile in cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression model. Mesuol potentiated percentage neutrophil adhesion in neutrophil adhesion test in rats and phagocytosis in carbon clearance assay. The study indicated immunomodulatory activity of mesuol.