Leptadenia Pyrotechnica Aqueous Extract Suppresses Innate Immunity and Enhances Adaptive Immunity in Rats

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Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne, a desert plant consumed widely in Saudi Arabia, has many medicinal activities and possible immune effects. Thus, this study determines the immunomodulatory activity of aqueous LP extract on the immune responses and body weight in rats. No published studies on the immune system and body weight effects of aqueous extracts of LP exist. Seventy-two adult Wistar albino rats were equally divided (12 rats per group and equal numbers of females and males) into the innate and adaptive immune responses studies. Each set of groups were orally gavaged with the aqueous extract at a low dose (LD, 20 g/kg body weight) and a high dose (HD, 40 g/kg body weight) while the control was gavaged with 3 ml of water, daily for 21 days. For the innate immune response, the neutrophil adhesion and macrophage phagocytic activity were determined. For the adaptive immune response, the heamagglutinating antibody titer and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction were measured. Results were compared between the LP groups and the control. The mean daily overall body weight loss, and feed inefficiency ratio for both LP groups were significantly higher, while the mean daily body weight and feed and water consumptions were lower. The LD group had a significantly lower phagocytic index, carbon clearance rate, and neutrophil adhesion percent. The delayed-type hypersensitivity and heamagglutinating antibody titer for the LD group were significantly higher. Thus, consuming the aqueous extract for three weeks led to lower body weight, stimulated adaptive immunity, and suppressed innate immunity.