ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Immunomodulatory Properties of Bambara Groundnut Condiment Extract in Diarrhoeal Induced Rats

Functional foods optimize the immune system and prevent diseases which can lead to stress. In this work, authors investigated the immunomodulatory properties of bambara groundnut condiment extract, using leucocytes of diarrhoeal rats as probe. Wistar rats were sorted and divided into 5 groups by weight (n = 5). Rats were induced for diarrhoea using castor oil. Diarrhoeal rats were then treated as follows: Group 1 received 2.5 mg levamisole per kg body weight, groups 2, 3 and 4, received 100, 250, 500 mg of bambara groundnut condiment extract (BGCE) per kg body weight respectively; group 5 received 2.5 ml of 3% tween 80 per kg body weight. Following standard protocols, treated rats were assessed for immunoglobulins G and M, leucocyte mobilization, as well as primary and secondary antibody titre values. Attempt was also made to screen bambara groundnut condiment for phytochemicals, both qualitatively and quantitatively, following standard protocols. Obtained data were analysed by SPSS (version 20). Values were expressed as Mean ± S.E.M. Mean values were evaluated by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Alkaloids, Phenols, Saponin and Flavonoids were among phytochemicals found in bamabara groundnut condiment in appreciable amount. Anthraquinones, Cardenolides and Chalcones were not detected. Quantitatively, the most abundant phytochemicals in bamabara groundnut condiment were alkaloids (0.68 %), saponin (0.29 %) cardiac glycoside (0.14 %), Phenols (0.13 %). The most mobilized leucocytes were the neutrophils which ranged between 6.83 x 103 µl in group 1 and 13.10 x 103 µl in group 5. Plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin G (2.22–2.63 g/l) were higher than values for immunoglobulin M (0.30–0.49 g/l) across all groups. Furthermore, secondary antibody titre values were generally higher than values of primary antibody titre values (19.20 vs 16.00 in group 1, and 25.60 vs 32.00 in group 4), for secondary and primary antibody titre values respectively. Bambara groundnut condiment extract was found to have immunostimulatory properties, obtained from the array of phytochemicals it possesses.