Abstract

Oral Treatment with Aqueous Solution of Coffea canephora Induce Protective Immune Response to Reduce Parasite Burden in Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis

Therapeutic option for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease prevalent in India, is limited. Successful chemotherapy with long lasting protection is ensured when the parasite clearance is associated with the induction of Th1 mediated proinflammatory immune response. Search for novel drugs utilizing natural products is considered beneficial. In the present study oral treatment with aqueous solution of soluble coffee granules of Coffea canephora is evaluated for its antileishmanial role against experimental VL in BALB/c mice. UV-visible spectroscopy showed that caffeine and chlorogenic acids were the two major components of the coffee solution. Continual oral intake of soluble coffee for one month showing no hepatic or cardiac toxicity caused partial but significant reduction of parasite burden from both liver and spleen in established infection. Toxicity levels and the parasite clearing efficacy of coffee treatment from liver were comparable with single shot Amphotericin B treatment. Induction of protective cell mediated immune response upon coffee treatment is evident from the formation of granuloma in liver. Decrease in anti-leishmanial IgG titre in the serum samples after treatment is also supportive for the disease cure.


Author(s): Samiran Saha, Antara Banerjee, Aanchal Verma1 and Chandan Kumar Jha

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