Immunostimulatory Activity Investigation of Aqueous and Hydroethanolic Extract of Wheatgrass Using THP1 Cells

Wheatgrass, Triticum aestivumis well known for its high nutritional values. However the immunomodulatory activity of the same is unexplored. Therefore, the present study was planned to elucidate the immunomodulatory activity of aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extract of wheatgrass. For immunomodulatory activity analysis, THP1 cells were treated with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and aqueous and hydroethanolic wheatgrass extract (50µg/mL and 100µg/mL, respectively) for 24 h. After 24 h, supernatants were harvested and cytokine assays were performed. NO production in terms of amount of nitritecontent was also estimated in treated and untreated murine peritoneal macrophages using Griess reagent. Further, a dose dependent in-vitrocomparative study concluded that both the extracts possess immunostimulatory activity. However comparison between both established that aqueous extract of wheatgrass having more immunostimulatory activity at the dose of 100μg/ml as extract significantly upregulated LPS induced release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in THP1 cells. The extract also significantly induced nitrite release in macrophage cells without causing any toxic effects. The findings suggest the non-specific immunostimulatory activity of wheatgrass; hence it could be used in enhancing immune responses and disease resistance.