IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF THE ASCIDIAN DIDEMNUM ALBIDUM

The immunomodulatory activity was examined in human monocytic cell line, RAW 264.7. The extract from ascidian activated RAW cells to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and nitric oxide (NO) at dose dependently. While increasing the parameters of macrophage activation, extract inhibited the growth of RAW and induce morphological changes in adherent monocytic cells into macrophages. This study indicated that extract of Didemnum albidum have effect of immunomodulatory activity, hence this extract can be useful to immune system.