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Joshi J, Bandral C, Manchanda RK, Khurana A, Nayak D, Kaur S. Evidence for Reversal of Immunosuppression by Homeopathic Medicine to a Predominant Th1-type Immune Response in BALB/c Mice Infected with Leishmania donovani. HOMEOPATHY 2021; 111:31-41. [PMID: 34454405 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease that is fatal if treatment is not given. The available chemotherapeutic options are unsatisfactory, and so complementary therapies like homeopathy might be a promising approach. METHODS A nosode from a pure axenic culture of Leishmania donovani was prepared and screened for its anti-leishmanial potential both in an in-vitro and an in-vivo experimental approach. RESULTS Leishmania donovani amastigote promastigote nosode (LdAPN 30C) exhibited significant anti-leishmanial activity against the promastigote forms of Leishmania donovani and was found to be safe. A study conducted on VL-infected mice revealed that LdAPN 30C resolved the disease by modulating the host immune response toward the Th1 type through upregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-17) and inducing nitric oxide (NO) levels in the infected macrophages. The hepatic parasite load was also found to be significantly decreased. The nosode was found to be safe, as no histological alterations in the liver or kidney were observed in the animals treated with the LdAPN 30C. CONCLUSION This is the first study in which an axenic culture of Leishmania donovani has been used for the preparation of a homeopathic medication. The study highlights the anti-leishmanial and immunomodulatory potential of a homeopathic nosode in experimental VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Joshi
- Department of Zoology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Chetna Bandral
- Department of Zoology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Raj Kumar Manchanda
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Khurana
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Debadatta Nayak
- Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India
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Pinto SAG, Nagai MYO, Alvares-Saraiva A, Peres GB, Waisse S, Perez EC, Bonamin LV. Silicea terra and Zincum metallicum Modulate the Activity of Macrophages Challenged with BCG In Vitro. HOMEOPATHY 2020; 110:52-61. [PMID: 33348418 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The homeopathic medicines Silicea terra (Sil) and Zincum metallicum (Zinc) modulate macrophage activity and were assessed in an experimental study in-vitro for their effects on macrophage-BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) interaction. METHODS RAW 264.7 macrophages were infected with BCG, treated with different potencies of Sil and Zinc (6cH, 30cH and 200cH) or vehicle, and assessed 24 and 48 h later for bacilli internalization, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and cytokine production, and lysosomal activity. RESULTS Treatment with vehicle was associated with non-specific inhibition of H2O2 production to the levels exhibited by uninfected macrophages. Sil 200cH induced significant reduction of H2O2 production (p < 0.001) compared with the vehicle and all other treatments, as well as higher lysosomal activity (p ≤ 0.001) and increased IL-10 production (p ≤ 0.05). Such effects were considered specific for this remedy and potency. The number of internalized bacilli was inversely proportional to Zinc potencies, with statistically significant interaction between dilution and treatment (p = 0.003). Such linear-like behavior was not observed for Sil dilutions: peak internalization occurred with the 30cH dilution, accompanied by cellular degeneration, and IL-6 and IL-10 increased (p ≤ 0.05) only in the cells treated with Sil 6cH. CONCLUSION Sil and Zinc presented different patterns of potency-dependent effect on macrophage activity. Bacterial digestion and a balanced IL-6/IL-10 production were related to Sil 6cH, though reduced oxidative stress with increased lysosomal activity was related to Sil 200cH. Degenerative effects were exclusively related to Sil 30cH, and potency-dependent phagocytosis was related only to Zinc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Augusta G Pinto
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirian Yaeko O Nagai
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anuska Alvares-Saraiva
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovani B Peres
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Waisse
- Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Graduation Program in History of Science, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth C Perez
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leoni Villano Bonamin
- Research Center, Graduation Program in Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista-UNIP, São Paulo, Brazil
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Joshi J, Bandral C, Manchanda RK, Khurana A, Nayak D, Kaur S. The Effect of Iodium 30c on Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis. HOMEOPATHY 2020; 109:213-223. [PMID: 32823292 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is one of several neglected tropical diseases that warrant serious attention. A disease of socio-economically poor people, it demands safer and cheaper drugs that help to overcome the limitations faced by the existing anti-leishmanials. Complementary or traditional medicines might be a good option, with an added advantage that resistance may not develop against these drugs. Thus, the present investigation was performed to evaluate the anti-leishmanial efficacy of an ultra-diluted homeopathic medicine (Iodium 30c) in experimental visceral leishmaniasis (VL). METHODS Compliant with strict ethical standards in animal experimentation, the study was performed in-vivo in inbred BALB/c mice which were injected intravenously with 1 × 107 promastigotes of Leishmania donovani before (therapeutic) or after (prophylactic) treatment with Iodium 30c for 30 days. In other groups of mice (n = 6 per group), amphotericin B served as positive control, infected animals as the disease control, while the naïve controls included normal animals; animals receiving only Iodium 30c or Alcohol 30c served as sham controls. The anti-leishmanial efficacy was assessed by determining the hepatic parasite load and analysing percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Biochemical analysis and histological studies were performed to check any toxicities. RESULTS Iodium-treated animals showed a significantly reduced parasite load (to 1503 ± 39 Leishman Donovan Units, LDU) as compared with the infected controls (4489 ± 256 LDU) (p < 0.05): thus, the mean therapeutic efficacy of Iodium 30c was 66.5%. In addition, the population of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly increased (p < 0.05) after treatment. No toxicity was observed, as evidenced from biochemical and histopathological studies of the liver and kidneys. Efficacy of Iodium 30c prophylaxis was 58.3%, while the therapeutic efficacy of amphotericin B was 85.9%. CONCLUSION This original study has shown that Iodium 30c had significant impact in controlling parasite replication in experimental VL, though the effect was less than that using standard pharmaceutical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Joshi
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Chetna Bandral
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Raj Kumar Manchanda
- Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Khurana
- Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Debadatta Nayak
- Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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Homéopathie et infections expérimentales : expérimentations in vivo et in vitro sur des bactéries, des champignons et des protozoaires. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.revhom.2019.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Homeopathy and experimental infections: In vivo and in vitro experiments with bacteria, fungi and protozoan. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.revhom.2019.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Martínez-Rodrigo A, S. Dias D, Ribeiro PAF, Roatt BM, Mas A, Carrión J, Coelho EAF, Domínguez-Bernal G. Immunization with the HisAK70 DNA Vaccine Induces Resistance against Leishmania Amazonensis Infection in BALB/c Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7040183. [PMID: 31739549 PMCID: PMC6963319 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7040183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania amazonensis is the aetiological agent of a broad spectrum of leishmaniosis in South America. It can cause not only numerous cases of cutaneous leishmaniosis but also diffuse cutaneous leishmaniosis. Considering the diversity of parasite species causing different forms of the disease that coexist in the same region, it is desirable to develop a vaccine capable of eliciting cross-protection. We have previously described the use of HisAK70 DNA vaccine for immunization of mice to assess the induction of a resistant phenotype against Leishmania major and infantum infections. In this study, we extended its application in the murine model of infection by using L. amazonensis promastigotes. Our data revealed that 14 weeks post-infection, HisAK70-vaccinated mice showed key biomarkers of protection, such as higher iNOS/arginase activity, IFN-γ/IL-10, IFN-γ/IL-4, and GM-CSF/IL-10 ratios, in addition to an IgG2a-type response when compared to the control group. These findings correlated with the presentation of lower footpad swelling and parasite burdens in the immunized compared to the control mice. Overall, this study suggests that immunization with HisAK70 may be considered a suitable tool to combat leishmaniosis as it is able to induce a potent cellular immune response, which allows to control the infection caused by L. amazonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Martínez-Rodrigo
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, INMIVET, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.-R.); (A.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Daniel S. Dias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (D.S.D.); (P.A.F.R.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Patrícia A. F. Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (D.S.D.); (P.A.F.R.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Bruno M. Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
| | - Alicia Mas
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, INMIVET, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.-R.); (A.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Javier Carrión
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, INMIVET, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.-R.); (A.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Eduardo A. F. Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (D.S.D.); (P.A.F.R.); (E.A.F.C.)
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, INMIVET, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.M.-R.); (A.M.); (J.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-913943712
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Tavares GS, Mendonça DV, Miyazaki CK, Lage DP, Soyer TG, Carvalho LM, Ottoni FM, Dias DS, Ribeiro PA, Antinarelli LM, Ludolf F, Duarte MC, Coimbra ES, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Roatt BM, Menezes-Souza D, Barichello JM, Alves RJ, Coelho EA. A Pluronic® F127-based polymeric micelle system containing an antileishmanial molecule is immunotherapeutic and effective in the treatment against Leishmania amazonensis infection. Parasitol Int 2019; 68:63-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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