Oral application of Baptisia tinctoria extract enhances immune parameters in rats and immunosuppressed mice

For the herbal immunomodulator Esberitox® containing an aqueous-ethanolic extract of a mixture of Thujae occidentalis herba, Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, Echinaceae purpureae radix and E. pallidae radix, immunological activity has been proven in vitro and in vivo [1]. In comparative in vitro investigations on the activity profiles of the single drugs, it was shown that Baptisia has its most striking activities in the activation of neutrophilic granulocytes and the stimulation of antibody production, especially IgM antibodies [1].

The present study was undertaken in order to prove the dosage rationale for the Baptisia component in the Esberitox® extract and to emphasize its significance in the herbal combination. Therefore, two in vivo assays, using a perorally applied aqueous-ethanolic extract of Baptisiae tinctoriae radix, were carried out as follows: (i) different extract concentrations were investigated for their influence on the PFC-response and the IgM production of spleen cells after immunization with SRBC in immunosuppressed mice; (ii) the effect on the IgM production in response to a prime-boost application of an upper airway inflammatory antigen – ovalbumin – was investigated in rats.

In (i) the treatment with the Baptisia extract dose-dependently increased the number of antibody producing cells (PFC) and stimulated significantly the production of IgM in spleen cells after costimulation with LPS ex vivo in vitro. In (ii), Baptisia induced a statistically significant increase in the IgM titers in the individual spleen cells cultures of the verum rats. These results indicate that amounts of Baptisiae tinctoriae radix as used in Esberitox® enhance immune response after peroral application in vivo and confirm that Baptisia essentially contributes to the immunostimulatory/-modulatory effects and pharmacodynamic profile of Esberitox®.

Reference: [1] Bodinet K. Immunpharmakologische Untersuchungen an einem pflanzlichen Immunmodulator [Dissertation]. Greifswald: EMAU Greifswald; 1999