The effects of methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Allium fistulosum L. on cell-mediated immune response in mice

Garlic and onions as dietary constituents and medicines have been used for many disorders which dates back to the early civilization. It has been shown that different species of Allium have immunomodulating effects. In this study, we sought to determine if methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Allim fistulosum L. (Leek) have any effect on cell-mediated immune response in mice. Methanolic and chloroformic extracts of A. fistulosum bulbs were prepared by maceration. To study the effects of A. fistulosum on acquired immunity, groups of Balb/c mice (n = 8-12) were used. Sheep red blood cell (SRBC) was injected (s.c., 1x108 cells/ml, 0.02 ml) and 5 days later, different extracts (1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg), betamethasone (4 mg/kg) or normal saline were given i.p. After 1 h SRBC was injected to footpad (s.c., 1x108 cells/ml, 0.02 ml) and footpad swelling was measured up to 72 h. To see the effects of A. fistulosum on intrinsic immunity the same procedure was used, but animals only received one injection of SRBC 1 h after i.p. injection of test compounds. Our findings showed that SRBC induced an increase in paw swelling with maximum response at 7 h. Betamethasone inhibited paw thickness in both models. In both intrinsic and acquired immunity models, chloroformic and methanolic extracts of A. fistulosum bulbs significantly reduced paw thickness at the doses of 100 and 1000 mg/kg, but no clear dose-response was observed.