Adjuvanting Property of Aqueous Extract of the Indian Mistletoe, Dendrophthoe falcata

Abstract

The Indian mistletoe, Dendrophthoe falcata, has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for its various therapeutic properties. Adjuvants are substances that enhance the immune response to antigens, thereby improving the effectiveness of vaccines or immunotherapies. In this study, the aqueous extract of D. falcata was evaluated for its adjuvanting potential in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. An aqueous extract (AE) was prepared from the dried leaves of D. falcata. The adjuvant activity was assessed by co-administering the extract with a heat inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae vaccine in O. niloticus. The immune response was evaluated by measuring the serum lysozyme activity and the serum antibody levels. Results showed that the AE significantly enhanced the specific and nonspecific immune responses to the model antigen. It increased the serum lysozyme activity and elicited a robust production of specific antibodies, suggesting a potentiated nonspecific and specific immune response. The adjuvanting property of the aqueous extract of D. falcata suggests its potential utility in enhancing the effectiveness of vaccines or immunotherapies.