title: Immunomodulatory properties of borage (Echium amoenum) on BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is caused by parasitic protozoa transmitted by the bite of a female sand fly and is currently endemic in 88 countries. BALB/c mice are highly susceptible to the infection with the parasite Leishmania major, and this susceptibility has been attributed, in part, to the expansion of Th2 cells, production of their cytokines, and downregulation of Th1 cytokine, interferon gamma (IFN-γ). In this report, we used both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Iranian borage (Echium amoenum Fisch & C.A. Mey) for treatment of L. major infection in BALB/c mice. We found that both extracts had immunomodulatory properties and increased the level of IFN-γ and lowered the parasite burden in the proximal lymph nodes and prevented the necrosis of the footpad as compared with the untreated infected mice. These results may provide a basis for further studies directed toward the use of the Iranian borage against L. major infection.
authors.affiliation: Hybridoma Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abolhassani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D036661:Echium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma