Background: Tuberculosis (TB) infection triggers the innate and adaptive immune responses. Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, and Curcuma longa L. extracts exhibit various immunomodulatory effects.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of 3 extracts used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from patients with TB.
Design: The research team performed an in vitro study with self controls.
Setting: The study took place at the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Participants: 18 patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB were enrolled in the study.
Intervention: Purified protein derivative (PPD)-stimulated PBMCs were cultured for 48 h in the presence and absence of 0.05 or 0.1 mg/mL of herbal extracts.
Outcome measures: Cytokine levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in the culture supernatant were measured.
Results: C longa L., E ulmoides Oliv. and G pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino extracts decreased IFN-γ production in PPD-stimulated PBMCs. C longa L. extract did not exhibit a marked and consistent effect on the production of IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α and TGF-β1. E ulmoides Oliv. extract increased the production of IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β1. G pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino extract increased the production of IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α and TGF-β1.
Conclusion: These results show that G pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino might enhance cell immunity since it increased the production of IL-12 and TNF-α with dose effect.