Abstract
Gaozaban (Onosma bracteatum wall, Family-Boraginaceae) is a key ingredient in a number of Unani and Ayurvedic formulations (eg. Kameera gaozaban sada, Dawa-ul-misk Motadil Jawahardar, Shahi etc.) which is used as a memory and an immunity enhancer. The present study has evaluated the psychoimmunomodulatory effects of O. bracteatum on the stress model in SD rats. The psychoimmunomodulatory effects of O. bracteatum were measured by assessing the changes in the behavior and the immunity of the rats, as well as by assessing the biochemical changes. In stress control, the results indicated that the % alternation, retention transfer latency, total leukocytes counts (TLC), size/weight of spleen and liver decreased and the acquisition transfer latency, total paw oedema, size of the kidney, AChE activity and the blood glucose level increased and agglutination disappeared with dilution significantly in comparison with normal control. In O. bracteatum treated rats, the % alternation, retention transfer latency, size of the spleen and liver, TLC, and the agglutination increased whereas the acquisition transfer latency, size of the kidney, total paw oedema, AChE activity and circulating glucose were significantly decreased in comparison with the stress control. This study therefore concluded that the extract of O. bracteatum showed a protective effect against the stress induced impaired immune functions and the psychological processes like memory and it also supported the traditional usage of O. bracteatum for the treatment of a variety of immune deficiency disorders (eg. asthma and rheumatoid arthritis) and abnormal memory disorders which included dementia.