The Veggie Which Boosts The Body's Defence System Against Onset of Diseases, Scientists Reveal

By Kyle J. Norton, Master of Nutrition

Asparagus may have a profound effect to stimulate immune system fighting against foreign invasion, some scientists suggested.

Immunomodulators are agents that have unique functions to modify the immune response or the functioning of the immune system such as  the stimulation of antibody formation or the inhibition of abnormal white blood cell activity.

In other words, immunomodulation processed immunotherapy, in which immune responses are induced depending to the body needs.

The immune system is the set of cells and their activity against antigens or infectious agents that comprises of the body’s defence system against diseases. 

The immune system does a great job of keeping people healthy and preventing infections. 

Beside foods and nutritional supplements, herbs also play important roles in helping the immune system defend against viruses and bacteria attacks.

Asparagus is a flowering plant belong to species the genus Asparagus, native to the western coasts of northern Spain, north to Ireland, Great Britain, and northwest Germany, northern Africa and western Asia. 

The herb has been used in early times as a vegetable and medicine, because of its delicate flavor and diuretic properties. Asparagus racemosus Linn. (Fam. Liliaceae) is considered as an ethno-pharmacologically acclaimed Ayurvedic medicinal plant which may enhance immune function.

Nutrients and chemical constituents
1. Vitamin K
2. Folate
3. Vitamin C
4. Vitamin A
5. Vitamin B Complex
a) Vitamin B1
b) Vitamin B2
c) Vitamin B3
d) Vitamin B6
6. Fiber
7. Manganese
8. Copper
9. Phosphorus
10. Potassium
11. Protein

Its chemical constituents include essential oils, asparagine, arginine, tyrosine, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin), resin, and tannin. 
 

According to study, application of aqueous extract of A. racemosus (ARC) showed a dose-related stimulation of NK cell activity.

More precisely, ARC demonstrated a higher immune stimulatory activity upto  51.8% at dose of  25 μg/ml.

Furthermore, in the searching for natural immunomodulatory agents where decrease of parasitic burden and simultaneous enhancement of adaptive immunity can be achieved in replacement of current drugs for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with side effect of suppressesing immune function during the course of infection, researchers at the Panjab University, launched an investigation based on combination of Asparagus racemosus, an immunomodulatory drug, in combination with cisplatin against Leishmania donovani infected BALB/c mice.

Experiential mice were given A. racemosus (650 mg/kg b.wt./day for 15 days, orally) in combination with cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.wt./day for 5 days, intraperitoneally) with an aim to enhance the clearance of parasites determined by Giemsa-stained liver impression smears.

At the the end of study, researchers found that 

* Application of combination group achieved increased production of disease resolving Th-1 response (IFN-gamma, IL-2), heightened DTH (delayed type hypersensitivity) response and augmented levels of IgG2a
 

IFNγ, or type II interferon, a cytokine plays an important role in regulate innate and adaptive immunity against viral, some bacterial and protozoal infections

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a type of inflammatory cytokine with function that signals molecule in the immune system plays a critical role to regulate the activities of white blood cells in response to immunity.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is an inflammatory response of immunity that develops within 24 to 72 hours after exposure to an antigen.

IgG2a is antibody produced during immune response.

* The combined application  not only provided enhanced protective immune response but also resulted in remarkable improved kidney and liver function. the human detoxed organs. 

Moreover, researchers also discovered, the combined application  also boosts and restores both cellular and humoral immunity in L. donovani infected BALB/c mice.

Dr. Sachdeva H, the lead author after taking into account of others co and con founders said, “….in view of severe immunosuppression in visceral leishmaniasis, a better and effective strategy for optimum efficacy of future antileishmanial drugs would direct not only killing of parasite by the drug, but also simultaneous generation of immunity against the disease“.
 

Taking altogether, herbal Asparagus used alone or conbination with cisplatin may have strong effect in boosting immune system against foreign invasion through mmunomodulatory activity.

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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published on line, including world wide health, ezine articles, article base, healthblogs, selfgrowth, best before it’s news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada – Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bio science, ISSN 0975-6299

References
(1) Chemical constituents of Asparagus J. S. Negi, P. Singh, [...], and V. K. Bisht (PubMed)
(2) Characterization and in vitro immunomodulatory screening of fructo-oligosaccharides of Asparagus racemosus Willd. by Thakur M, Connellan P, Deseo MA, Morris C, Praznik W, Loeppert R, Dixit VK.(PubMed)
(3) Asparagus racemosus ameliorates cisplatin induced toxicities and augments its antileishmanial activity by immunomodulation in vivo. by Sachdeva H, Sehgal R, Kaur S.(PubMed)