Simple and reliable assay to detect immunosuppresant activity in Macroalge

Abstract

The possible immunosuppressant activity of extracts of Ulva fasciata, Hypnea valentiae and Hypnea musciformis was evaluated by fish scale transplantation assay. The crude Hypnea extracts exhibited delayed acceptance of transplanted scale from 4th day onwards in the F2 progeny of Poecilia reticulata at 0.001% level compared to fractionated extract of Ulva fasciata. No rejection of transplanted scale was noticed at 0.01% of Ethanol-fresh extract of U. fasciata (EF) fraction up to 10th day of experiment. Rejection of transplanted scale was noticed in the case of acetone and ethanol - fresh extract among the F2 progeny from 3rd and 4th day respectively