TNF-α Production Modulated by Aloe Vera Gel Extract and its Fractions in Candida Albicans Infected Macrophages

Farahnejad, Zohre; Jamali, Davood

doi:10.32598/Immunoregulation.1.1.45

TNF-α Production Modulated by Aloe Vera Gel Extract and its Fractions in Candida Albicans Infected Macrophages

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zohre Farahnejad ¹
Davood Jamali ²

¹ Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medical Sciences, AJA University, Tehan, Iran.

² Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

10.32598/Immunoregulation.1.1.45

Abstract

Background: Aloes have been used as medicinal plants for centuries. The immunomodulatory effect of Aloe vera has previously been shown. Meanwhile, TNF-α, as an inflammatory cytokine, plays an essential role in defense against invading pathogen. In the present study, the effects of A. vera extract gel and its fractions were investigated on the TNF-α production by macrophages against Candida albicans as an opportunistic microorganism in humans.
Materials and Methods: TNF-α was measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Biosource, Switzerland).
Results: The results showed that TNF-α level was increased by A. vera gel extract and some isolated fractions dose dependently. The A. vera gel extract in dilutions of 1:2, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:50 significantly increased the production of TNF-α. Likewise, R100 and R30 fractions of A. vera caused significant increase in TNF-α production. However, R10 and R5 fractions caused a reduction in TNF-α production as compared with that in control group.
Conclusion: These results showed that A. vera gel extracts and its fractions induce both immunostimulating and immunosuprressive effects on the production of TNF-α against Candida albicans. The efficacy of immunomodulatory of this herb is dose-dependent.

Keywords

References

Choi CY, Kim JY, Kim YS, Chung YC, Seo JK, Jeong HG. Aqueous extract isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum elicits the release of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha from murine macrophages. International Immunopharmacology. 2001; 1(6):1141-51. [DOI:10.1016/S1567-5769(01)00047-9]
Cope AP. Regulation of autoimmunity by proinflammatory cytokines. Current Opinion in Immunology. 1998; 10(6):669-76. [DOI:10.1016/S0952-7915(98)80087-3]
Morace G, Borghi E. Fungal infections in ICU patients: epidemiology and the role of diagnostics. Minerva Anestesiologica. 2010; 76(11):950-6. [PMID]
Lockhart SR. Current epidemiology of Candida infection. Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. 2014; 36(17):131-6. [DOI:10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2014.08.001]
Elhoufi A, Ahmadi A, Asnaashari AM, Davarpanah MA, Bidgoli BF, Moghaddam OM, et al. Invasive candidiasis in critical care setting, updated recommendations from “Invasive Fungal Infections-Clinical Forum”, Iran. World Journal of Critical Care Medicine. 2014; 3(4):102-12. [DOI:10.5492/wjccm.v3.i4.102] [PMID] [PMCID]
Cataldo MA, Petrosillo N. Economic considerations of antifungal prophylaxis in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2011; 7:13-20.
Sardi JC, Scorzoni L, Bernardi T, Fusco-Almeida AM, Mendes Giannini MJ. Candida species: current epidemiology, pathogenicity, biofilm formation, natural antifungal products and new therapeutic options. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2013; 62(Pt 1):10-24. [DOI:10.1099/jmm.0.045054-0] [PMID]
Singh G, Raksha AU. Candidal infection: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and recent advances for diagnosis. Bulletin of Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences (BOPAMS). 2013; 1(1).
Rodloff C, Koch D, Schaumann R. Epidemiology and antifungal resistance in invasive candidiasis. European Journal of Medical Research. 2011; 16(4):187-95. [DOI:10.1186/2047-783X-16-4-187] [PMID] [PMCID]
Tortorano AM, Kibbler C, Peman J, Bernhardt H, Klingspor L, Grillot R. Candidaemia in Europe: epidemiology and resistance. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 2006; 27(5):359-66. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.01.002] [PMID]
Kriengkauykiat J, Ito JI, Dadwal SS. Epidemiology and treatment approaches in management of invasive fungal infections. Clinical Epidemiology. 2011; 3:175-91. [PMID] [PMCID]
Das S, Mishra B, Gill K, Ashraf MS, Singh AK, Sinha M, et al. Isolation and characterization of novel protein with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties from Aloe vera leaf gel. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2011; 48(1):38-43. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2010.09.010] [PMID]
Cohen SM, Rousseau ME, Robinson EH. Therapeutic use of selected herbs. Holistic nursing practice. 2000; 14(3):59-68. [DOI:10.1097/00004650-200004000-00010] [PMID]
Im SA, Lee YR, Lee YH, Lee MK, Park YI, Lee S, et al. In vivo evidence of the immunomodulatory activity of orally administered Aloe vera gel. Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2010; 33(3):451-6. [DOI:10.1007/s12272-010-0315-1] [PMID]
Maenthaisong R, Chaiyakunapruk N, Niruntraporn S, Kongkaew C. The efficacy of aloe vera used for burn wound healing: a systematic review. Burns: Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries. 2007; 33(6):713-8. [DOI:10.1016/j.burns.2006.10.384] [PMID]
Farahnejad Z, Ghazanfari T, Yaraee R. Immunomodulatory effects of Aloe vera and its fractions on response of macrophages against Candida albicans. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology. 2011; 33(4):676-81. [DOI:10.3109/08923973.2011.560158] [PMID]
Farahnejad Z, Rasaee MJ, Moghadam MF, Paknejad M, Kashanian S, Rajabi M. Preparation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against mannoprotein of Candida albicans. Hybridoma (2005). 2005; 24(3):146-51. [DOI:10.1089/hyb.2005.24.146] [PMID]
Ghazanfari T, Yaraee R, Farahnejad Z, Hakimzadeh H, Danialy F. In vitro effect of Pleurotus Florida on macrophage cell viability and nitric oxide production. Food and Agricultural Immunology. 2009; 20(2):105-10. [DOI:10.1080/09540100902838198]
Djeraba A, Quere P. In vivo macrophage activation in chickens with Acemannan, a complex carbohydrate extracted from Aloe vera. International Journal of Immunopharmacology. 2000; 22(5):365-72. [DOI:10.1016/S0192-0561(99)00091-0]