Introduction:

Immunosuppression is one of the main obstacles in the treatment of cancer, for this reason, several natural and synthetic immunomodulators are studied, in order to attenuate the effects of conventional therapy.

Objective:

To evaluate the immunomodulator activity of Punica granatum Linn (pomegranade).

Methods:

Wistar male rats were divided into four groups: group I (control), II (immunized with red blood cells of sheep), III (immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide and immunized with red blood cells of sheep) and IV (treated with pomegranate powder, immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide and immunized with red blood cells of sheep). The variables studied were body weight and detection of haemagglutinating antibodies.

Results:

A slight tendency to increase body weight was observed in groups I, II and III, with a different response in group IV, where there was a slight decrease. The antibody titre of group III decreased with respect to II and IV, both in the primary and secondary response. In group IV the antibody titer was found to be statistically significant in relation to group III (p = 0.000) for both responses.

Conclusions:

Punic granatum showed immunomodulatory effect, increasing the level of haemagglutinating antibodies.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )