Effect of an aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica on the immune response in mice

Abstract

lmmunopotentiating agents are useful in enhancing resistance to infections in individuals whose immunocompetence is compromised for one reason or another. Because of the very wide spectrum of infectious and non·infectious diseases for which preparations from Azadirachta indica are said to be efficacious, it was suspected that a general immunopotentiating ability could be part of the mechanisms by which it ameliorates so many disease conditions. Using the haemolytic plaque technique, an aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica stem bark was shown to enhance the immune response of BALB/C mice to sheep red blood cells in vivo.