The Effect of Black Cumin Supplementation on the Level of Interferon-γ in Multibacillary Leprosy Patient under MDT-WHO Therapy

Authors: Retno Indar W , Djoko Susanto RS , Himbawani M and Riyanto P*

DOI: 10.23880/cdoaj16000127

Volume 2, Issue 3

Abstract

Background: Multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients have cellular immune response defects of M. leprae causing high bacillary load and a high number of skin lesions (≥5), thus causing the untreated MB leprosy patients to be the main transmission source of M. leprae. Elevated Th2 cytokine levels such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 are characteristic of lepromatous or multibacillary patients. While the level of Th1 cytokines is low, including Interferon-γ(IFNγ). IFNγ which is a major macrophage-activating cytokine, has a role in natural defense and cellular immunity against intracellular microbes such as M. leprae. Several studies have shown that black cumin can increase IFNγ production, thus having a potential effect on the cellular immune system, by stimulating Th1 and an an inhibitory effect on Th2 cells. 

Keywords: Black cumin extract; Nigella sativa; Multibacillary leprosy; IFNγ

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