Immunomodulation, the alteration of the immune response, stands as a crucial avenue in both preventing infections and combatting established diseases. In a recent study conducted by Vara Prasad Saka, G. V. Narasimha Kumar, Abanti Goswami, Digvijay Verma, and Pankaj Gupta, affiliated with various research institutes under the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy in India, the potential immunomodulatory effects of Camphora were investigated in BALB/c mice.
The research, published in an esteemed scientific journal, delved into the impact of Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies on immunomodulation. Additionally, acute oral toxicity studies were conducted to ascertain the safety of various potencies of Camphora.
The acute oral toxicity studies, following OECD guidelines with slight modifications in Wistar albino rats, revealed that Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies, administered at a dose volume of 2000 μl/kg, did not induce any mortality in the experimental animals.
Moving on to the immunomodulatory effects, the study demonstrated that Camphora exhibited an augmentation of primary and secondary humoral responses against the sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigen in BALB/c mice. While the increase in antibody titers was statistically non-significant in most cases, the 6CH potency exhibited a significant increase (p<0.01) in primary anti-SRBC antibodies.
Furthermore, Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies displayed a significant decrease in the paw volume ratio in the Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) assay, indicating a reduction in cell-mediated immunity after 24 hours of SRBC injection in the paw. This finding suggests a potential role for Camphora in modulating cell-mediated immune responses.
The study also compared Camphora’s effects to a vehicle control (dispensing alcohol), demonstrating enhanced antibody titers and decreased paw volume in the experimental groups, further supporting Camphora’s immunomodulatory potential.
In conclusion, the research indicates that Camphora in 6CH, 30CH, and 200CH potencies appears to be safe up to a dose volume of 2000 μl/kg and possesses immunomodulatory properties, augmenting humoral immunity while decreasing cell-mediated immunity in experimental animals. These findings propose Camphora as a potential candidate for immunomodulation in the treatment of immune system disorders and infectious diseases, necessitating further investigation into its mechanism of action.
