Artesunate-tinospora combination treatment decreases nuclear factor kappa-B and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in mouse malarial models
Abstract: Cerebral malaria is
a severe form of malaria caused by brain ischemia. Artesunate, an artemisinin
derivative, is the standard WHO therapy for severe malaria. Tinospora crispa
(brotowali) is a traditional plant with antiinflammatory, antioxidant and
antiparasitic properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of
combinations of artesunate and T. crispa extract on nuclear factor kappa-B
(NFêB) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the brain
of mouse malaria models.
Methods
This was an experimental post-test only control group study using
C57BL/6J mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, divided into 7 groups: negative
control, positive control, group receiving artesunate 32 mg/kgBW, group
receiving tinospora extract 3.5 mg/kgBW, and three groups receiving
combinations of artesunate 32 mg/kgBW and tinospora extract 2.5 mg/kgBW, 3
mg/kgBW and 3.5 mg/BW, respectively. The expression of NFêB and ICAM-1 was
measured by immunohistochemistry. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data.
Results
NFkB and ICAM-1 expression increased significantly in the positive controls
compared to all other groups (p=0.000). NFkB expression was significantly lower
in the groups receiving artesunate and tinospora at 3 mg/kgBW and 3.5 mg/kgBW,
as compared with the artesunate only group (p=0.003; p=0.005) and the tinospora
extract only group (p=0.001; p=0.003). NFkB expression in all combination
treatment groups was similar to that in the negative controls (p>0.05),
whereas ICAM-1 expression did not differ between single and combination
treatment groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion
The combination of artesunate and T. crispa extract is better in
decreasing NFêB and ICAM-1 expression in the brain of mouse malaria models.
Keywords: Artesunate;
tinospora; ICAM-1; malaria; NFkB; mouse
Author: Nur Izzati, Loeki
Enggar Fitri, Mochammad Dalhar
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160212
