Humoral immune and adjuvant responses of mucosally-administered Tinospora cordifolia immunomodulatory protein in BALB/c mice.

Background: In traditional medicine, guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is considered as an adaptogen with
immunomodulatory prowess. A 25 kDa protein from guduchi stem has been characterized as an
immunomodulatory protein (ImP).
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intrinsic immunogenicity of guduchi ImP and
adjuvant activity using ovalbumin (OVA) as antigen in BALB/c mice.
Materials and Methods: Mice were given guduchi ImP (30 and 60 mg) by intranasal administration to
respective groups (n ¼ 6) on days 1, 14 and thereafter weekly till day 42. Immunogenic response was
monitored by serum IgG/IgA levels (days 14, 35 and 50). The adjuvant activity was measured by serum
anti-OVA IgG/IgA responses to administration of 30 mg OVA with guduchi ImP. The effect of guduchi ImP
on the spleen status was examined by splenic weight (day 50).
Results: Guduchi ImP administration displayed a significant increase in anti-guduchi ImP IgG (5e7 fold)
and anti-guduchi ImP IgA (3e4 fold) on day 50 vs. control. Guduchi ImP showed a significant increase in
anti-OVA IgG (6e7 fold) and anti-OVA IgA (4e5 fold) on day 50 vs. control. The splenic index of guduchi
ImP group increased significantly in both the immune and adjuvant response groups; however, the
splenic index in the adjuvant response group was markedly higher.
Conclusion: The results indicate that guduchi ImP is a strong immunogen by itself and enhances the
immunogenicity of mucosally-administered antigen in BALB/c mice. Based on the results of this animal
study, it appears that guduchi ImP shows a potential for future studies in humans.