Abstract

*K. G. C. Dissanayake, W. P. R. T. Perera and N. Premasinghe

ABSTRACT

Most of the cases, viral infected patients are suffering from secondary infections. Apart from that, due to the exhausted immune system patients more vulnerable to secondary infections and various diseases. Dysfunction of the immune system is responsible for multiple illnesses, such as arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, allergies, parasites, cancer, and infectious diseases. So, medicinal plants and their active components are becoming increasingly relevant as a source of immunomodulatory agents. T. cordifolia stem extracts or the isolated compounds of the plant exhibits amazing immune stimulatory effects in various ways. Isolated compounds of T. cordifolia such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and 11-hydroxymustakone, Magnoflorine and Tinocordiside shows immunomodulatory effects by enhancing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation which causes to augment the immune response. T. cordifolia extract exhibits a considerable effect of the immunostimulation in HIV positive patients and, increases the phagocytosis and intercellular killing capacity by increasing the survival rate and polymorphonuclear leucocyte function. In addition to that, a novel (1,4)-?-D-glucan from T. Cordifolia activates the immune system by activating macrophages via of TLR6 signaling and NF-?B activation mechanism, leading to cytokine and chemokine production. Immunoductatory protein (ImP) obtained from the dry stem powder of Tinospora cordifolia is significant for augmenting the various immunological activities in the human body. Hence, more attention should be focused on the phytochemistry and their applications of the Tinospora cordifolia for immune enhancements as well as reduce secondary infections risks along with the viral infections.