Effect of some Indian herbs on macrophage functions in ochratoxin A treated mice

The effect of Indian herbs namely, Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera and Picrorhiza kurrooa on the functions of macrophages obtained from mice treated with the carcinogen ochratoxin A (OTA) was investigated. The chemotactic activity of murine macrophages was significantly decreased by 17 weeks of treatment with OTA compared with controls. Production of interleukin-l (IL-I) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was also markedly reduced. Treatment with Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera and Picrorhiza kurrooa significantly inhibited OTA-induced suppression of chemotactic activity and production of IL-I and TNF-alpha by macropahges. Moreover, we found that Withania somnifera a treated macrophage chemotaxis and that Asparagus racemosus induced excess production of TNF-alpha when compared with controls. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.