Evaluation of the immunomodulatory and DNA protective activities of the shoots of Cynodon dactylon

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFresh juice of Cyanodon dactylon known as ‘durva’ grass is employed in India as a rejuvenator and for wound healing.Aim of the studyTo validate the traditional use of the herb through evaluation of DNA protective activity in vitro and immunomodulatory activity in vivo.Materials and methodsFresh juice of the grass was prepared as indicated for use in traditional medicine and standardized for solid content. Its total phenol content was estimated by Folin–Ciocalteau method. Freshly prepared juice was investigated for its effect on doxorubicin-induced DNA damage in vitro. Its immunomodulatory activity was tested on balb/c mice by the humoral antibody response which was determined by haemagglutination antibody titer and spleen cell assay.ResultsFresh juice of Cyanodon dactylon of 1.46% (w/w) solid content had a phenolic content of 47 ± 0.33 mg/kg GAE. At doses equivalent to 50, 100 and 200 mg total solids/kg body weight the juice protected human DNA against doxorubicin-induced DNA damage as demonstrated in DNA spectral studies, where the ratio of absorbance of DNA at 260 and 280 nm in samples pretreated with the juice was 1.66, 1.53 and 1.63 respectively, while it was 1.37 for DNA treated with doxorubicin only. This indicates nucleic acid purity in the Cynodon dactylon treated samples. Oral administration of the juice at 250 and 500 mg/kg in balb/c mice increased humoral antibody response upon antigen challenge, as evidenced by a dose-dependent, statistically significant increase in antibody titer in the haemagglutination antibody assay and plaque forming cell assay.ConclusionsThe present report demonstrated the DNA protective activity and immunomodulatory property of the fresh juice of Cynodon dactylon validating the traditional use of the herb as a ‘rasayana’ in ayurvedic system of medicine.