Immunomodulatory Effect Of Phytobiotics

An immunomodulator is any substance that helps to regulate the immune system. The function and efficiency of the immune system may be influenced by various exogenous and endogenous factors resulting in either immunosuppression or immunostimulation. Several compounds with an activity to normalize or modulate pathophysiological processes are called immunomodulatory agents.

Constant increase in the antibiotic’s resistant strains and various side effects caused by the synthetic drugs has prompted scientists to look for herbal immunomodulators to treat various infections. Herbal drugs are believed to enhance the natural resistance of the body against infection and their immunomodulatory activities have been reported in numerous plants. Additionally, they are considered an interesting part of vaccination programs, used equally before and/or after vaccinations, in order to give a necessary support in the situation of immunity challenge. Modulation of immunity is useful in antimicrobial therapy and vaccine development.

Recently, the immunomodulating properties of plants are being studied extensively and with greater interest, due to the growing awareness on immune system modulation and to achieve the desirable effects on disease prevention. Several plant remedies, well-known in traditional medicine exert their anti-infective effects not only by direct impact on the pathogen, but also by stimulation of natural and adaptive defense mechanisms of the host.

The interest of using immunomodulators, to improve cellular and humoral immune functions and resistance against infections in chickens and other domestic animals has increased in the last decade. The industry is searching the way to standardize these preparations and bring them in line with conventional pharmaceutical products.

Immunomodulators derived from natural products can be classified as both: high and low molecular weight compounds. Active compounds belong to any of the following classes of substances: carbohydrates, terpenes, steroids, phenols, coumarins, amino acids, peptides, proteins, glycoproteins, alkaloids, and other nitrogen-containing organic compounds.

The immunomodulatory activity of plant extracts can be expressed through different mechanisms. Herbal products are characterized by their immunomodulatory properties and by stimulating specific and non-specific immunity in a general way. Some of these plants stimulate both cellular immunity and humoral immunity, while others only activate the cellular components of the immune system, that is, phagocytic function without affecting cellular or humoral immunity. Plants recognized to have immunomodulatory activity are Allium savitum, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Uncaria tomentosa, Hydrastis canadensis, Aloe vera, etc.

One of the most relevant plants for its immunostimulant properties is Echinacea. There are three species of the genus Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. palida and E. angustifolia). Echinacea-based preparations increase the process of phagocytosis by macrophages, the activation of the complement system and the production of antibodies. The immunostimulating activity of Echinacea is associated with water-soluble polysaccharides, free or esterified phenolic acids (echinacoside, among others), polyene compounds and isobutylamides. The potential active compounds in E. purpurea include polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkylamides, caffeic acid derivatives, volatile oils, and alkaloids. The polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkylamides, and caffeic acid derivatives have shown immunostimulatory properties.

Echinacea extracts when administered to humans at the beginning of respiratory processes appear to be capable of shortening the duration and severity of respiratory tract infections. It is likely that due to its own mechanism of action, Echinacea shows its maximum efficacy in patients whose immune system is compromised, that is, in those individuals who have a higher frequency of episodes of colds or other viral processes. Echinacea is rich in fiber, group C and B vitamins (such as riboflavin) and beta carotenes, as well as minerals such as iron, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.

Siberian ginseng or Taiga root (Eleutherococcus senticosus, recently named as Acanthopanax senticosus) is also used as a tonic and has been reported to exhibit immunostimulatory properties and is very popular as a dietary supplement.

It is a thorny shrub from the family Araliaceae distributed in Southeast Russia, Northeast China, Korea, and Japan.

In the extract of Siberian ginseng, triterpenoid saponins, lignans, coumarins, and flavones, among which, phenolic compounds such as syringin and eleutheroside E have been reported to have various medicinal anti-gout, antihepatitis, antihyperglycemic, anti-leishmania properties. It is significant for its secondary metabolites, called glycosides–eleuterosides. This plant compounds have a wide range of beneficial effects on human organism and animals.

Notably, recent studies have gained extensive attention demonstrating that extracts derived from Acanthopanax senticosus, improved immune responses, promotes a greater efficiency of nutrition and modulated gut health of weaned piglets.

Botanical immunodrugs could provide a unique opportunity to bioprospect diverse and synergistic chemicals moieties, which in combination might act on multiple targets and improve the therapeutic spectrum. Therefore, to increase the productive indicators of cattle, pigs and laying hens, it is necessary to improve their diets and feeding schemes. For this purpose, feed specialists are searching for cost-effective nonconventional nutritional ingredients, with at least the same or even higher if possible biological value.

Feel free to contact with Liptosa for further details about properties of our formulations. If you wish to know more, ask about IMMUNOLIP: specific combination of selected ingredients with immunomodulatory effect, that helps to reduce the need of antibiotic treatments and is recommended as an integral part of efficient vaccination programme.