The Immune Effects of an African Traditional Energy Tonic in In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Figure 5

Secretion of inflammatory cytokines following infection with S. aureus and treatment with doses of the energy tonic 24 hours later. Infection caused a nonsignificant decrease in inflammatory cytokines secretion when compared to untreated rats. Exceptions were IL-4 which showed a slight increase and IL-6 which was significantly increased. Infection with S. aureus significantly decreased () the secretion of IL-2. The addition of the traditional energy tonic doses increased secretion of IL-1α, IL-2, and IL-13 at the lowest dose, while IL-10 was increased by both doses of the energy tonic used when compared to rats infected with S. aureus only. The higher dose (100 mg/mL) of the energy tonic decreased IL-1β, IL-2 (), and IL-13. The broad antibiotic did not significantly increase secretion of cytokines when compared to both untreated and infected rat models but instead decreased secretion of IL-1β, IL-2 (), IL-4, IL-10 (), and IL-13. ⋆ indicates significant difference.