Augmented Blastogenic Response in B and T Cells due to in vitro Exposure of Bauhinia variegata (L.) Benth Leaf Extract in Chicken Lymphocytes

Bauhinia variegata (L.) Benth commonly known as kachnar belongs to the family Fabaceae. This plant is known for many therapeutic usages traditionally viz., anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antioxidant activity, etc. The present study was conducted to explore its immunomodulatory potential employing chicken lymphocytes culture system through lymphocytes proliferation assay (LPA). Leaves of Bauhinia variegata were used for preparation of fifty percent hydro-methanolic extract (BVE) with extraction yield of 5.44%. Various concentrations of BVE were used to give in vitro exposure to chicken lymphocytes and maximum non-cytotoxic dose of BVE was found to be 0.1mg/ml, which was further used in B and T cells blastogenesis. LPA revealed a significant immunopotentiating effect on B and T cells’ proliferation under mitogenic (LPS, ConA and PHA) stimulation. Thus, it could be concluded that BVE has immunopotentiating activity. However, there is need of further in vitro and in vivo analyses before it could be exploited as poultry feed additive.