Immunopharmacological evaluation of Phallus impudicus against specific protein antigen

The objective of our study is to examined its immunopharmacological property of stinkhorn i.e. Phallus impudicus against hepatitis B vaccine containing surface antigen (HBsAg; 20 µg/ml) and weak antigen ovalbumin (OVA; 100 µg/well). For these studies, Phallus impudicus were macerated in liquid nitrogen to prepare fine powder and measured its protein content in presence and absence (using Tris HCl and ice cold acetone) of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) which is determined through Nanodrop method. In addition, aqueous solution and protein of Phallus impudicus were used for determining antibody (IgG) production through indirect Elisa and also examined Th1 (TNF alpha) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines in animal (especially Swiss mice) model studies. The results showed that Phallus impudicus showed more protein content in case of aqueous solution containing PBS as compared to Tris HCl and ice cold acetone. In continuation of these studies, the results showed that aqueous solution containing PBS and protein (using Tris HCl and ice cold acetone) showed declined in anti-HBsAg and anti-OVA IgG titre at higher doses as compared to standard. In addition, both of them enormously enhancement in Th1 cytokine especially TNF alpha but there is slightly observed in case of IL-4 containing HBsAg and OVA at higher doses. In short, protein and aqueous solution of Phallus impudicus provides preliminary information related to anticancer activity because of enhancement of TNF alpha.