Immunological Effect of Goat Bile on The Immunity of Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Abstract

Goat bile (GB) has been used traditionally as antimalarial medicine. Toxicity and antimalarial activity as well as the suppressive effect of GB have been reported previously. This study aimed to find out the immunological effect of GB on the serum level of IgG, TNF-α, and IL-10 in Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Fifty male BALB/c mice were infected with P. berghei ANKA and were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1-3 were treated with GB at a concentration of 25% (GB25), 50% (GB50), and 100% (GB100), respectively. Group 4 was a negative control and was given only sterile water. Group 5 was a positive control group, which was given 187.2 mg/kg body weight of the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine antimalarial drug. Simultaneously, 3 groups of uninfected mice were treated with GB as above. Additionally, a group of normal mice without any treatment was used as a comparison control group. Treatments were given for four consecutive days. Parasitemia was observed daily on Giemsa-stained blood smears. Sera were collected on day five before the measurement of IgG anti P. berghei ANKA, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels by ELISA kit. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Mann Whitney, and Pearson correlation tests. Temporary mild diarrhea was seen in GB100-treated mice. All GB concentrations suppressed IgG production. The GB100 was more therapeutic, but GB50 and GB25 increased IL-10 levels as an antiinflammation response against infection. The pro-inflammatory effect of GB in normal mice caused TNF-α levels in GB-treated uninfected mice to be high. Both the toxicity and benefit of GB could be considered potential sources for the development of new anti-malarial candidates. The toxicity of GB should be considered seriously as the contradictive effect.