Mineral pitch stimulates humoral, cellular and innate immune responses in mice

Pharm Biol. 2013 Aug;51(8):997-1007. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2013.774027. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

Context: Mineral pitch (MP), a traditional medicine, is proposed to boost immunity in conditions that suppress Th1 cytokines such as AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and cancer.

Objective: This study investigates the immunoregulatory mechanisms of MP in innate, humoral and cell-mediated immunity.

Materials and methods: Mice given MP (100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg, orally) for 10 consecutive days were immunized intravenously with goat RBC or ovalbumin, and investigated for plaque-forming cells (PFC), hemagglutination titer, hypersensitivity response, lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage function.

Results: MP increased PFC (330.2 versus 182.2/10⁶ splenocytes) in mice immunized with goat RBC and elicited ovalbumin-specific IgG titer at 400 mg/kg. Increase in Th1 immunity was correlated with the increased level of IFN-γ (724 versus 470 pg/ml) and decreased IL-4 (96 versus 178 pg/ml). CD4⁺/CD3⁺ ratio and delayed-type hypersensitivity response also increased to, respectively, 20.62 ± 0.59 (versus 16.47 ± 0.72) and 1.59 ± 0.12 (versus 0.87 ± 0.10 mm) in MP-treated mice. MP increased lymphocyte proliferation (11.14 ± 0.60 versus 5.81 ± 0.40 SI) and macrophage phagocyte response (0.24 ± 0.02 versus 0.15 ± 0.009), expressed as absorbance at 570 nm, but decreased nitrite production (17.4 ± 1.10 versus 24.3 ± 1.30 µM/10⁶ cells). We also observed an increased bone marrow cellularity (24.5 ± 1.10 versus 17.10 ± 0.70 cells/femur) and WBC count (12 667 ± 377 versus 9178 ± 213 cells/mm³) following MP treatment. There was no sign of toxicity at 400 mg/kg, 1/12th of reported LD₅₀.

Conclusion: MP elicits a dose-dependent Th1 immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Complex Mixtures / administration & dosage
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology*
  • Complex Mixtures / toxicity
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Goats
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • India
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Medicine, Ayurvedic
  • Mice
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Nitrites
  • Ovalbumin