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Mir TM, Shamim K, Zhang J, Khan SI, Tripathi SK, Khan IA, Marshall GD, Ashfaq MK, Pugh ND. Immulina® mitigates the development of illness when administered during the prodromal period of influenza viral infection in mice (Part 2). PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 132:155778. [PMID: 38876006 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immulina®, a dietary supplement derived from Limnospira (formerly Arthrospira), is being investigated as a potential agent to increase antiviral resilience. In our recently published manuscript, we described the effects of Immulina® on influenza when taken daily, beginning before infection (prophylaxis) or after the onset of clinical symptoms of viral illness (therapeutic). However, the benefit of Immulina® in infected individuals before the manifestation of any symptoms (prodromal) has not been investigated yet. PURPOSE To evaluate Immulina®'s potential use to increase the host antiviral immune response using a prodromal therapy regime. STUDY DESIGN The efficacy of Immulina® extract was evaluated in rodents using a prodromal protocol (test material administered prior to the emergence of viral illness symptoms). METHODS Immulina® (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to both genders of mice, 2 h following influenza A viral infection, and continued daily for 14 days. RESULTS Compared to the infected control mice, animals fed Immulina® exhibited statistically significant reduction in the emergence of various physical symptoms of viral-induced illness and decreased viral RNA levels. The effects are likely mediated through the host immune system since the level of various cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ) were significantly increased in lung tissue. CONCLUSION This study, together with our previous paper, indicate that Immulina® was most effective at enhancing immune antiviral resilience if administered before or soon after initial infection. The data generated can be used to guide additional research using human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir M Mir
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Kashif Shamim
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Shabana I Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA; Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Siddharth K Tripathi
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Ikhlas A Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA; Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Gailen D Marshall
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson MS 39216, USA
| | - Mohammad K Ashfaq
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA
| | - Nirmal D Pugh
- National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University MS 38677, USA.
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