Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antibacterial, immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties of aerial parts of Barleria lupulina Lindl were investigated in the present communication. METHODS: The antibacterial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of B. lupulina (methanol soluble leaf and stem extracts) was analyzed by minimum inhibitory concentration, total phenolic contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, determination of toxicity, hemagglutination antibody titre, delayed type hypersensitivity and neutrophil adhesion test, respectively. RESULTS: Methanol soluble leaf extract (MLE) contains more soluble bioactive compounds inhibiting the growth of five bacterial pathogens viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhi even at MICs of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL. Aqueous stem extract (ASE) was least effective while MLE was highly effective in inhibiting the growth and survival of bacterial pathogens. While testing the effect of these extracts in animal model, no mortality of albino rats was recorded by using MLE and MSE at the concentrations from 200 to 600 mg/kg of their body weight. The MLE showed significant result in agglutination reaction and induced paw edema volumes when compared with untreated group (control). Both MLE and MSE extracts significantly increased neutrophil adhesion with increase in doses of extracts. MLE was found to have more potent immune-stimulant properties than the MSE. High phenolic contents were found in MSE while lowest IC(50) values were found in MLE in term of DPPH radical scavenging activity. CONCLUSIONS: Methanol soluble leaf and stem extract of Barleria lupulina contains antibacterial, antioxidants and immunomodulating phytochemical compounds that was effective for antibacterial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. These may be used as synthetic drug.