Evaluation of Traditional Medicines III: The Mechanism of Immune Modulation by PHELA.

Authors

  • Makhotso Lekhooa
  • Andrew Walubo
  • Jan JB Du Plessis
  • Motlalepula G Matsabisa

Keywords:

PHELA, traditional medicine, cyclosporine-A, cytokines, immune stimulant

Abstract

PHELA is a herbal traditional medicine that is under development for use as an immune booster in immune compromised individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine PHELA’s mechanism of action by observing for changes in cytokine profiles. Four groups of Sprague Dawley rats (n = 8) were treated daily and separately with normal-saline, cyclosporine-A, PHELA-only and PHELA+ cyclosporine-A. Thereafter, 4 animals from each group were sacrificed after 7 and 14 days of treatment. Serum Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-ά) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were measured by ELISA. The concentrations of Th1 cytokines in the PHELA-only treated group were similar to the control group on days 7 and 14. However, the Th1 cytokines were higher in the PHELA+cyclosporine-A treated group compared to cyclosporine-A group, and cyclosporine-A concentrations were similar in both groups. These results show that PHELA did not stimulate Th1 cytokines of a normal immune system but stimulated them when the immune system was suppressed by cyclosporine-A. In conclusion, PHELA is an immune-stimulant to a compromised immune system.

Author Biography

Motlalepula G Matsabisa

Medical Research Council, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (Health) Unit P.O.Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, Francie van Zijl Drive Parow Valley, Cape Town, South Africa

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Published

2012-01-26

How to Cite

Lekhooa, M., Walubo, A., Du Plessis, J. J., & Matsabisa, M. G. (2012). Evaluation of Traditional Medicines III: The Mechanism of Immune Modulation by PHELA. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 9(3S), 47–63. Retrieved from https://athmsi.org/journals/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/1493

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 3S (2012): Traditional medicine in the era and HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Section

Research Papers

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