Effects of bilberry fruit aqueous extract and selected antibiotics on immune response in mice.

It was demonstrated that an extract from the pharmacopoeial raw material bilberry fruit (Fructus Myrtilli) co-administered with selected antibiotics: cefuroxime, cefoperazone and doxycycline, positively affects the survival of mouse thymocytes in cultures with hydrocortisone (cytotoxicity test), increases the count of splenocytes forming spontaneous rosettes (E-rosette test) and increases the agglutination titre of mouse serum (active hemagglutination test). In the cytotoxicity test, the best protective effect has been obtained with the combination of doxycycline with bilberry fruit aqueous extract. The increased count of splenocytes capable of binding sheep red blood cells has been observed for cultures with cephalosporins (cefuroxime and cefoperazone). The highest agglutination titre has been demonstrated for mouse serum treated with the extract in combination with doxycycline and cefuroxime.