Immunomodulatory Activity of Rhododendron Arboreum from Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

newlineA strong, well-functioning immune system is the foundation of good health. Immunity is the balanced state of obtaining sufficient biological defenses to fight infection or different unwanted biological invasions whereas having tolerance to avoid allergic reaction and autoimmune diseases. According to IHME (institute for health metrics and evaluation) report, in India highest percentage of deaths due to weak immune system includes cardiovascular diseases (28.09%), respiratory diseases (10.93%), and cancers (8.3%). Immune deficiency diseases are one of the serious global health problems leading to increased mortality, morbidity and economic burden. It can be acquired by an imbalance or lack of nutrients in the body, drugs used to fight specific diseases that attack the immune system. Many factors play a significant role in altering the immunocompetence such as age, sex, genetic variability, stress, alcohol/ drug abuse, malnutrition, environmental pollution, lifestyle etc. Immune system is a potential target of toxicity following exposure to drugs, chemicals or environmental pollutants. newlineAlmost all animals have their own system to make different immunostimulators at a different time. Various artificial agents are being used as immunostimulators but they are linked with several side effects. Human beings are living in an open environment which is heavily contaminated with many pollutants. They are constantly exposed to varieties of chemical, physical, and environmental factors that cause adverse effects and damages on the human. In nature, our body has different strategy to control the above-mentioned factors, and man is constantly trying to find and identify remedies for these problems. There is a need to search alternatives to counteract the pathogens and also to safeguard human and animal health. It is found that huge populations of India utilize plants for its curative, healing, preventive, therapeutic, and immunostimulatory property to endorse positive health and maintain organic resistance against infection th