Introduction: Many clinical disorders happen due to the imbalances of immunological processes. Immunomodulation which involves alteration of the immune response through stimulation or suppression of the immune system makes the body resistant to the development of immunological imbalances. Cyphostemma adenocaule is traditionally used for the management of swelling, pneumonia, constipation, hernia, helminthic infection, cancer, snake bite, rabid dog bite, enlarged spleen, malaria and other febrile illness in different areas of Ethiopia and the rest of the world. However, this medicinal plant is not yet scientifically validated for its immunomodulatory effect.

Methods: In this study, the hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule were evaluated for their immunomodulatory effect on carbon clearance test, humoral antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity, body weight change, organ index, and blood cell count in Swiss albino mice.

Result: The hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule showed immunostimulant effect through enhancement of carbon clearance rate, antibody titer, organ index, and blood cell count. The hydroethanolic root extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed the highest and statistically significant stimulation of carbon clearance rate (0.1100 ± 0.0124), humoral antibody titer (96.00 ± 14.31), delayed-type hypersensitivity (0.123 ± 0.010), and blood cell counts compared to the vehicle.

Conclusion: The finding of the present study showed that hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule exhibited significant immunostimulatory properties.

Ø Sub-acute and chronic toxicological studies of the extract and solvent fractions should be conducted to determine the long term safety profile of the plant

Ø Identification and characterization of compounds present in the n-butanol fraction should be conducted to determine the active constituents responsible for the immunomodulatory effects.

Ø Further studies should be carried out to reveal the mechanism of immunostimulation at a molecular level.

Keywords: Cyphostemma adenocaule, immunomodulator, levamisole, organ index, cyclophosphamide, humoral antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity, phagocytosis

Introduction: Many clinical disorders happen due to the imbalances of immunological processes. Immunomodulation which involves alteration of the immune response through stimulation or suppression of the immune system makes the body resistant to the development of immunological imbalances. Cyphostemma adenocaule is traditionally used for the management of swelling, pneumonia, constipation, hernia, helminthic infection, cancer, snake bite, rabid dog bite, enlarged spleen, malaria and other febrile illness in different areas of Ethiopia and the rest of the world. However, this medicinal plant is not yet scientifically validated for its immunomodulatory effect.

Methods: In this study, the hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule were evaluated for their immunomodulatory effect on carbon clearance test, humoral antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity, body weight change, organ index, and blood cell count in Swiss albino mice.

Result: The hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule showed immunostimulant effect through enhancement of carbon clearance rate, antibody titer, organ index, and blood cell count. The hydroethanolic root extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed the highest and statistically significant stimulation of carbon clearance rate (0.1100 ± 0.0124), humoral antibody titer (96.00 ± 14.31), delayed-type hypersensitivity (0.123 ± 0.010), and blood cell counts compared to the vehicle.

Conclusion: The finding of the present study showed that hydroethanolic root extract and solvent fractions of Cyphostemma adenocaule exhibited significant immunostimulatory properties.

Ø Sub-acute and chronic toxicological studies of the extract and solvent fractions should be conducted to determine the long term safety profile of the plant

Ø Identification and characterization of compounds present in the n-butanol fraction should be conducted to determine the active constituents responsible for the immunomodulatory effects.

Ø Further studies should be carried out to reveal the mechanism of immunostimulation at a molecular level.

Keywords: Cyphostemma adenocaule, immunomodulator, levamisole, organ index, cyclophosphamide, humoral antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity, phagocytosis