A review of immunomodulators in the Indian traditional health care system

Some of the medicinal plants valued in Ayurvedic Rasayana for their therapeutic potential have been scientifically investigated with promising results. A number of plant-based principles have been isolated with potential immunomodulatory activity that can explain and justify their use in traditional medicine in the past and can form the basis for further research in the future as well. The aim of this review is to highlight results of research done on immunomodulators of plant origin. The selection of papers was made using the most relevant databases for the biomedical sciences on the basis of their ethnopharmacological use. Many plants and some phytoconstituents responsible for immunomodulation have been explained. The review also discusses biological screening methods for various plant drugs that focus on revealing the mechanism involved in immunomodulation. This work shall hopefully encourage researchers to undertake further work on medicinal plants with potential immunomodulatory activity. Copyright (C) 2012, Taiwan Society of Microbiology. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.