MYRRH and ARTESUNATE MODULATE SOME Th1 and Th2 CYTOKINES SECRETION in SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI INFECTED MICE

The present study was conducted to demonstrate the effects of artesunate and myrrh on S. mansoni infection and the levels of some T-helper-1 (Th1) and T-helper-2 (Th2) cytokines. Six weeks after infection with S. mansoni mice were treated with 4mg/kg/day of artesunate for three days and 10 mg/kg/day of myrrh for 3 successive days. Worm burden of mice treated with artesunate and myrrh was reduced significantly with a percentage of reduction of 53.7 % and 58.7 % respectively. Antischistosomal antibodies IgG and IgM levels were decreased in mice infected and treated with artesunate and myrrh. No obvious changes were observed in the level of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) after treatment with myrrh and artesunate. On the other hand Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was increased in S. mansoni infected mice in comparing with that of normal group. After treatment with artesunate, IL-2 level was significantly decreased. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was decreased after treatment with artesunate but increased after treatment of infected mice with myrrh in comparing with the infected non treated group. However, interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels were decreased after treatment with artesunate and myrrh compared with that of infected non-treated group. The results demonstrated that, artesunate and myrrh treatment could give a level of protection against S. mansoni infection and modulate the levels of some Th1 and Th2 cytokines in mice infected with S. mansoni.