Volume: 47 Issue: 3
Exploring the medicinal potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaves: Phytochemical profiling and immunological effects in the avian system
Year: 2025, Page: 153-161, Doi: https://doi.org/10.62029/jmaps.v47i3.ruj
Received: Sept. 23, 2025 Accepted: Jan. 21, 2026 Published: May 18, 2026
Antioxidants are vital compounds that play a key role in safeguarding the body against damage induced by oxidative stress. Since ancient times, a variety of ailments have been managed by modulating the immune system through the use of medicinal plants. The poultry industry is particularly vulnerable to both biotic and abiotic stresses, which often lead to substantial economic losses. Enhancing the immune system of poultry, or immunomodulation, is one strategy employed to combat poultry diseases. In light of this, the present study investigated the immunomodulatory and antioxidant potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT) in a chicken lymphocyte culture model. The aqueous NAT leaf extract (NAE) was prepared and assessed for the presence of various phytochemical constituents. The antioxidant activity of NAE was evaluated using the DPPH assay. The non-cytotoxic concentration of NAE was established in the lymphocyte culture system to be 300 μg/mL. NAE induced significant T cell proliferation in cultures stimulated with PHA and Con A, and also led to an increase in B cell proliferation in LPS-stimulated cultures compared to the control. A notable reduction in lipid peroxidation percentage was observed following treatment with NAE. Furthermore, levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase were elevated in NAE-treated cells relative to untreated controls. NAE demonstrated clear antioxidant properties and showed immunomodulatory effects in chicken lymphocytes, indicating its potential application in developing herbal immunomodulatory preparations for poultry. Nonetheless, further in-depth research is warranted to identify the specific phytochemicals responsible for NAE’s immunostimulatory effects, employing advanced biochemical and molecular biology methodologies.
Keywords: Antioxidants, DPPH, Immunomodulation, Medicinal plants, Phytochemicals.
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Ruj, A., Paliwal L., Ambwani, S., & Ambwani, T.K. (2025). Exploring the medicinal potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaves: Phytochemical profiling and immunological effects in the avian system. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 47(3). 153 -161.
