Immunomodulatory and Mast Cell Stabilizing Potential of Ethanol Extract of Eleusinecoracana L.

Eleusinecoracanal (seed)(finger millet bran)is rich in dietary fibre (free of glutan) and micronutrients and has been extensively studied for its anti-diabetic, anti-tumorogenic, anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcerative, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial potential. However, the immuno-modulatory potential and mast cell membrane stabilizing ability of E. coracana L (Ragi seeds) needs to be evaluated. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the ability of ethanol extract of E. coracana L. to potentiate immunomodulation and inhibit mast cell degranulation of human macrophages and mice peritoneal mast cells respectively. Ethanol extraction of E. coracana L (Ragi seeds) was performed by cold percolation method. Assessment of In vitro immunomodulatory activity was carried out using human PMN layer, Candida albicans and morphological criteria was adopted to calculate the phagocytic index. In vitroevaluation of inhibition of mast cell degranulation was determined using isolated mice peritoneal mast cells. In vitro evaluation of phagocytosis revealed that ethanol extract of E. corocana L. (seed) induced vacuolation of human macrophages. Nevertheless, E. corocana L (seed, ethanol extract) (25 mg/mL) was found to inhibit polysorbate 80 induced mast cell degranulation.