title: Evaluation of traditional medicines III: the mechanism of immune modulation by PHELA.
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-α) 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.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University of the Free State, Francie van Ziyl Drive, Tygerberg 7505, Parow Valley, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Makhotso
authors: M
authors: Lekhooa
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Walubo
authors: Jan J B
authors: JJ
authors: Du Plessis
authors: Motlalepula G
authors: MG
authors: Matsabisa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000070357:Asparagaceae; D032409:Clerodendrum; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000187:drug effects*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D029846:Senna Plant
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D016572:Cyclosporine
keywords: PHELA; cyclosporine-A; cytokines; immune stimulant; traditional medicine
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