Synergistic Immunosuppressive Activity of Chamomile Flower (Matricaria Chamomilla L.) Extracts and Methotrexate in Vivo

Abstract

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a common herb used as a traditional medicine for centuries, was used to treat a variety of human ailments, although its anti-inflammatory action is unknown.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate theimmunosuppressive effects of chamomile flowers methanolic and aqueous extractswith and without  methotrexate (MTX) in male albino rats (Rattus rattus).Thirty-six male rats were divided into six groups (6 rats for each), G1(normal saline), G2(MTX), G3( methanolic extract of Matricariachamomilla), G4(aqueous extract of Matricariachamomilla) , G5(methanolic extract of Matricariachamomilla and MTX) , and G6(aqueous extract of Matricariachamomilla and MTX).All the groups wereprimed for 30 days, then  sacrificed on day 31and blood samples  was taken to estimate the immunological biomarkers including ; CD4 , CD28 and CD80.. In the normal state (G1) , chamomile extractswere showed a minor inhibitory responses; nevertheless, the levels of CD₄in  G5 and G6 groupswas considerably lower than the control group, whereas  there was  no significant differences  in the levels of these parameters  in the other groups when compared to the control group. It could be concluded that the  methanolic and aqueous extracts ofchamomile flowers alone not revealed immunosuppressant activity but  have some synergistic potentials with MTX.