immunomodulatory activities in CT 26 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. The
polysaccharides significantly suppressed tumor growth and increased immune
organ index. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect was evident with the
activation of CD4
+ and CD8
+ ICs population. The polysaccharides also affected the
production of various cytokines, by increasing IL 2, IL 6, IL 7 levels and decreasing
TNFa levels. Low molecular weight exhibit polysaccharides anticancer and
immunomodulatory activities by suppressing tumor growth and improving the
general health of mice. They also augment the thymus/spleen index and population
of T lymphocytes. Furthermore, the polysaccharides enhance the levels of serum
antitumor cytokines, IL 2, IL 6 and IL 7 while decreasing pro-tumor cytokine TNFa
(Ayeka et al. 2017).
6.3.12 Murraya Koenigii (Family: Rutaceae)
This plant is commonly known as Curry Leaves found in Asia and South Africa,
Murraya koenigii has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor properties due to
the presence of bioactive ingredients like carbazole alkaloid. Many bioactive
compounds are present in M. koenigii like koenigin, koenine, koenimbine, girinimbin, iso-mahanimbin, koenidine, cyclomahanimbine, tetrahydromahanimbine,
carbazole alkaloids, murrayazoline, mahanimbine, murrayastine, etc. Aqueous
extracts of M. koenigii exhibit antioxidant activity and protects cardiac tissue
against cadmium-induced oxidative stress (Mitra et al. 2012). Leaf extracts also
reduced lipid peroxidation in ethanol-induced toxicity in hepatocytes (Sathaye et al.
2011). Methanolic extracts reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema in albino rats,
(Bhandari 2012). Methanolic extracts of M. koenigii also significantly increased the
NO production from macrophages, hence an indicator of its enhanced cytotoxic
activity. It also increased the phagocytic index in the carbon-clearance test.
Moreover, the humoral antibody response to ovalbumin also increased on treatment
with the methanolic extract, thus indicating an overall elevation in humoral
response and immunostimulatory effect of the extract on B-cells (Shah et al. 2008).
6.3.13 Ocimum Sanctum (Family: Lamiaceae)
This plant is commonly known as Holy Basil mainly found in Asia, Europe and the
USA. O. sanctum has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunostimulatory activity
and has multidirectional therapeutic uses. Key active compounds are isolated are
eugenol-2 and its methylated derivatives, sitosterol ursolic acid, limatrol, methyl
carvicol, etc. Aqueous extract of O. sanctum mainly contains tannins, flavonoids,
and alkaloids (Gupta et al. 2002). Leaf extract O. sanctum shows immunostimulatory activity. It induces an innate or nonspecific immunity, increases the counts of
WBCs, RBCs, phagocytes and lymphocytes and therefore can be used to manage
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
243
polysaccharides significantly suppressed tumor growth and increased immune
organ index. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect was evident with the
activation of CD4
+ and CD8
+ ICs population. The polysaccharides also affected the
production of various cytokines, by increasing IL 2, IL 6, IL 7 levels and decreasing
TNFa levels. Low molecular weight exhibit polysaccharides anticancer and
immunomodulatory activities by suppressing tumor growth and improving the
general health of mice. They also augment the thymus/spleen index and population
of T lymphocytes. Furthermore, the polysaccharides enhance the levels of serum
antitumor cytokines, IL 2, IL 6 and IL 7 while decreasing pro-tumor cytokine TNFa
(Ayeka et al. 2017).
6.3.12 Murraya Koenigii (Family: Rutaceae)
This plant is commonly known as Curry Leaves found in Asia and South Africa,
Murraya koenigii has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor properties due to
the presence of bioactive ingredients like carbazole alkaloid. Many bioactive
compounds are present in M. koenigii like koenigin, koenine, koenimbine, girinimbin, iso-mahanimbin, koenidine, cyclomahanimbine, tetrahydromahanimbine,
carbazole alkaloids, murrayazoline, mahanimbine, murrayastine, etc. Aqueous
extracts of M. koenigii exhibit antioxidant activity and protects cardiac tissue
against cadmium-induced oxidative stress (Mitra et al. 2012). Leaf extracts also
reduced lipid peroxidation in ethanol-induced toxicity in hepatocytes (Sathaye et al.
2011). Methanolic extracts reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema in albino rats,
(Bhandari 2012). Methanolic extracts of M. koenigii also significantly increased the
NO production from macrophages, hence an indicator of its enhanced cytotoxic
activity. It also increased the phagocytic index in the carbon-clearance test.
Moreover, the humoral antibody response to ovalbumin also increased on treatment
with the methanolic extract, thus indicating an overall elevation in humoral
response and immunostimulatory effect of the extract on B-cells (Shah et al. 2008).
6.3.13 Ocimum Sanctum (Family: Lamiaceae)
This plant is commonly known as Holy Basil mainly found in Asia, Europe and the
USA. O. sanctum has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunostimulatory activity
and has multidirectional therapeutic uses. Key active compounds are isolated are
eugenol-2 and its methylated derivatives, sitosterol ursolic acid, limatrol, methyl
carvicol, etc. Aqueous extract of O. sanctum mainly contains tannins, flavonoids,
and alkaloids (Gupta et al. 2002). Leaf extract O. sanctum shows immunostimulatory activity. It induces an innate or nonspecific immunity, increases the counts of
WBCs, RBCs, phagocytes and lymphocytes and therefore can be used to manage
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
243