14 days of treatment the thickness of left foot pad was measured using calipers (Schnelltester, Germany) reading to 0.01 mm. The mice were then challenged by injecting 20 ml of 5 · 109 SRBC per ml intradermally on the left hind foot pad (time 0). Foot thickness was measured after þ24 and þ48 h of challenge. The difference between the thickness of left foot just before and after challenge in mm was taken as a measure of DTH (22). Neutrophil Adhesion Test. The method described by Wilkonson (1978) (23) was used for evaluating the effect of extracts on neutrophil adhesion. After 14 days of treatment of all the three groups, blood samples were collected by retro- orbital puncture in heparinized vials and subjected to total as well as differential leukocyte count. After initial counts the blood samples were incubated with 80 mg ml 1 of nylon fibers at 37 C for 15 min. The incubated samples were again analyzed for total and differential leukocyte count. The product of total leukocyte count and % neutrophil known as neutrophil index was determined for each of the respective groups (24). The % neutrophil adhesion for each of the test groups was determined as follows, % Neutrophil adhesion ¼ Difference of neutrophil count in untreated and fiber-treated blood Neutrophil count of untreated blood ·100 Activity Against Drug-Induced Immunosuppression The methods of Doherty (1981) (25) modified by Ziauddin et al. (26) was used. Six groups of six albino mice each were taken. Group I served as control. Group II was administered ethanolic extract 200 mg kg 1 bw. Group III was given sapogenin extract 100 mg kg 1 bw. Group IV received 100 mg kg 1 bw azathioprine. In Group V animals, 100 mg kg 1 bw azathioprine and 200 mg kg 1 bw of ethanolic extract was administered, whereas Group VI was treated with 100 mg kg 1 eCAM 2007;4(4) 421 bw azathioprine and 100 mg kg 1 bw of sapogenin extract. All the animals were sensitized by injecting 5 · 109 SRBC’s intraperitoneally before experimentation. On 15th of treatment, all the mice were sacrificed and blood was collected in heparinized vials. Blood samples for animals of each group were subjected for hematological and serological studies such as hemoglobin content, total RBC, total and differential WBC count and platelet count (Fig. 1 and Table 2). Results Survival Rate Studies The survival rate of the treated animals was considerably enhanced after treatment with C. borivilianum extract. Administration of ethanolic extract and sapogenin exhibited 94 ± 5.56 and 88.86 ± 5.6 percent survival after infection with C. albicans. Sapogenin extract was 50% (P < 0.05) and ethanolic extract 60 % (P < 0.05) more effective in reducing mortality as compared to control group animals (Table 1). The results suggest potentiation of non-specific immune response on treatment with ethanolic extract and sapogenins. DTH Using SRBC as an Antigen In the control group animals, after þ48 and þ72 h of challenge the DTH response was either equal or slightly more than the 0 h response; therefore, the peak edema after þ24 h of challenge was the evaluating parameter. Ethanolic extract (200 mg kg 1 per orally) was most effective (P < 0.05) compared to sapogenin (100 mg kg 1 per orally) treatment in increasing the delayed-type hypersensitivity response (Table 1). Effect of C. borivilianum ethanolic extract/sapogenins on drug induced immunosuppression 18 16 s r tee 14 m 12 a rap tn10 l u icag oC 8 lo 6 o ta 4 m eH 2 0 Control Test gp II Test gp III Test gp IV Test gp V Test gp VI Treatment Hemoglobin Concentration %g RBC count in millions/cmm Platelet Count in lakhs/cmm WBC count in thousand/cmm Figure 1. Effect of Chlorophytum borivillianum Sant. & F. on azathioprine induced suppression of hematological parameters.