Techniques for evaluation of medicinal plant products as antimicrobial agents: Current methods and future trends

Certain plants products widely used in the traditional medicine system of India were studied for immunostimulant activity. In the present study, strong stimulation of antigen specific and non specific immunity was evidenced by increase in haemagglutinating antibody (HA) titre, plaque forming cells (PFC) and in macrophage migration index (MMI), in mice fed with 50% ethanolic extract of these plants. The observation provides scientific basis for wide spread use of these plant products which are likely to play a role in Indian traditional medicine as tonic for rejuvenation therapy and chronic ailments.

Key words: Macrophage migration index, haemagglutinating antibody, immunostimulant.