Modulatory activity of a polyphenolic fraction of Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. bark on multiple arms of immunity in normal and immunocompromised mice

To evaluate immunomodulatory activity of polyphenolic fraction of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark (PP-CZ) against infection-related conditions using normal and immune-compromised mice. The normal and cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced immune-compromised mice were sensitized with SRBCs and PP-CZ (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered orally for 7 days. The haemagglutinin (HA) antibody titres (primary and secondary) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was measured at 7- and 14-days post-immunization, respectively. In separate experiments, effects of PP-CZ on numbers of resident peritoneal macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), against host resistance (E coli-induced abdominal sepsis) and phagocytic activity against Candida albicans were evaluated in mice. PP-CZ had shown a have beneficial effects on multiple arms of theimmune system in animal models and improves humoral (antibody production), cellular (DTH) and innate (PMN phagocytosis) responses of the immune system, as well as numbers of resident peritoneal macrophages. PP-CZ also showed protection to mice against lethal E. coli abdominal sepsis. PP-CZ demonstrated significant immunomodulatory activity through multiple arms of immunity in normal and infection-related immuno-compromised conditions.