Pharmacologyonline 2: 164170 (2011) Shaikh et al. 164 IMMUOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHAOLIC EXTRACT OF STEM BARK OF BAUHIIA VARIEGATA LI. Sohrab Shaikh* 1 , Mahesh Ghaisas 2 , Avinash Deshpande 3 , Sujit Karpe 1 , Anil Manikrao 1 1 Sahyadri College of Pharmacy, Methwade, Tal. Sangola, Dist. Solapur, Maharashtra, India 2 Department of Pharmacology, Indira College of Pharmacy, Pune, Maharashtra, India 3 Department of Pharmacology, Pad.Dr.D.Y.Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra India. *Correspondance: E(mail: shaikh.sohrab@gmail.com Summary Immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extract of stem bark of   in swiss albino was evaluated mice. Specific cell mediated immune response was studied by performing delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) model in mice treated with ethanolic extract of stem bark of   (EBV) . The non specific immune response was studied by performing the model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced abdominal peritonitis in mice treated with EBV. In DTH model EBV at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg p.o.showed significant rise in the mean difference of footpad thickness in immunosuppresed group when compared with cyclosporine control. In the cecal ligation and puncture induced abdominal peritonitis model, EBV at the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o showed significant increase in survival of animals. EBV shows the specific activation of cellular immune system in the immunosuppressed animal and also non specifically enhances the immune system by activation of the monocyte macrophage system and natural killer cells. Thereby it can be concluded that EBV holds promise as immunomodulatory agent which acts by stimulating both specific and non(specific arms of immunity. KEYWORDS:   Rasayana, immunomodulatory. Introduction Modulation of immune responses to alleviate the diseases has been of interest for many years and the concept of Rasayana is based on related principle. [1] More specifically, rasayana is anti(ageing, increases the life(span, promotes intelligence and memory and increases resistance to disease” (presumably infections and therefore indicating potential immunostimulant effects). Rasayana herbs act as adaptogen, immunomodulator, pro(host probiotic and antimutagenic. Many plants used in traditional medicine have immunomodulating activities. Some of these stimulate both humoral and cell mediated immunity while other activate only the cellular components of the immune system, i.e. phagocytic function without affecting the humoral or cell mediated immunity. Some of these plants also suppress both humoral and cell mediated immunity. [2] About 34 plants are identified as rasayanas in Indian ayurvedic system of medicine having various pharmacological properties such as immunostimulant, tonic, neurostimulant, antiageing, antibacterial, antirheumatic, anticancer, adaptogenic, antistress. Many plants are reported to possess potential immunomodulatory activity, a lot more are still to be explored and offer scope for further investigation.