Effects of drugs of plant origin on the development of the immune response.

The effects of extracts from licorice (Glycyrrhisa glabra), great nettle (Urtica dioica), common burdock (Arctium lappa), and bur marigold (Bidens tripartite) on the humoral and cellular immune response and nonspecific resistance in mice were studied. Burdock and bur marigold extracts stimulated the humoral immune response, nettle and licorice extracts stimulated cellular response and nonspecific resistance, their effects being superior to those of pharmacopoeial Echinacea purpurea tincture.

Immunotropic activity of plant extract Echinosol.

The formulation of medicinal herbal tea Echinosol was developed. Immunotropic properties of aqueous-alcohol extract Echinosol were studied. This extract (300 mg/kg) had a stimulatory effect on the following parameters: formation of T cell precursors and production of T cell effectors; migration of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils into the blood; digestive activity of neutrophils; migration of monocytes and lymphocytes into the peritoneal exudate; expression of C3b receptors on macrophages; phagocytic capacity of cells due to the existence of C3b receptors; number of antibody-producing cells in the spleen; and synthesis of immunoglobulins.