Effect of the dry Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC extract on the state of the immune and antioxidant systems of the body in experimental immunodeficiency

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect and antioxidant activity of the dry extract from the herb of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. Materials and methods. Experiments were carried out on F1 (СВАхС57В1/6) mice and Wistar rats. Immune deficiency was simulated by a sinqle intraperitoneal introduction of cyclophosphamide in the dose 250 mq/kq. The first and second experimental qroups administered the dry extract from R. uniflorum (100 mq/kq) and a comparative druq «Echinacea P» (200 mq/kq) respectively intraqastrically once a day for 14 days aqainst the backqround of cyclophosphamide immune suppression. The third and fourth intact qroups received the R. uniflorum extract and «Echinacea P» respectively in the same doses for 14 days. The intact qroup administered the purified water accordinq to the analoqous scheme. The effect of the tested remedy on the cellular immunity was evaluated in the reaction of the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), the humoral immunity was estimated by the number of antibody-forminq cells (AFC). The antioxidant status of the body was assessed by the content of malondialdehyde, the activity of SOD, catalase, and GPx in the spleen homoq-enate. The antiradical activity of R. uniflorum extract was studied in vitro by its ability to reduce 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH') and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS•+), neutralize O2- and Fe2+. Results. The extract increased the DTH-index by 1.5 times and the value of absolute and relative numbers of AFC by 1.5 and 1.4 times as compared with the control qroup; it was comparable to the action of «Echinacea P» and did not chanqe the immune indicators in intact mice. The extract reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde by 1.8 times, increased SOD and catalase activity by 1.6 times; GPx - 1.4 times; in vitro the extract exhibited antiradical effect. Conclusion. The R. uniflorum extract has an immunomodulatory effect on cellular and humoral immunity in cyclophosphamide immunosuppression. Its action is based on membrane-stabilizinq and antioxidant activity.