Plant-derived medicines: a novel class of immunological adjuvants.

Abstract

Plant-derived medicines have a long history of use for the prevention and treatment of human disease. Today, many pharmaceuticals currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have origins to plant sources. A major role for plant-derived compounds based on the reported immunomodulatory effects has emerged in recent times and has led to the rigorous scientific examination to determine efficacy and safety. The discovery of novel plant compounds with immune system modulating activities has become an increasingly important area of research, particularly in the search for new-generation vaccine adjuvants. This review discusses the important role of plant-derived medicines as immuno..