Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokine profile of mice fed a high-fat diet after single-bulb garlic (Allium sativum L.) oil treatment

Sri Rahayu Lestari¹ , Muhaimin Rifa'i²

¹Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of Malang; ²Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia.

For correspondence:- Sri Lestari Email: srirahayulestari@um.ac.id Tel:+6281331264965

Accepted: 16 October 2018 Published: 30 November 2018

Citation: Lestari SR, Rifa'i M. Regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokine profile of mice fed a high-fat diet after single-bulb garlic (Allium sativum L.) oil treatment. Trop J Pharm Res 2018; 17(11):2157-2162 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v17i11.7

© 2018 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the effects of a single-bulb garlic (Allium sativum) oil (SGO) on the activation of regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods: The study was conducted with 24 BALB/c male mice divided into six groups consisting of four mice each, i.e., control group (non-HFD, no treatment), HFD group without treatment, HFD administered with simvastatin, and three HFD groups administered SGO doses of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, respectively, and continuously treated (with SGO) for 45 days. The relative number of regulatory T cells, IL-10 and TGF-β were measured using flow cytometry.

Results: HFD decreased the expression of regulatory T cells, and the production of IL-10 and TGF-β compared to the control group (p < 0.05). SGO (50 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the activation of regulatory T cells and production of TGF-β in mice fed high-fat diet compared to simvastatin group (p < 0.05). The dose of 25 mg/kg SGO significantly increased the level of IL-10 in mice fed a HFD (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that SGO inhibits inflammatory processes in mice fed a HFD, by enhancing regulatory T cells and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and TGF-β. Thus, SGO a promising food supplements and/or therapeutic agent for management of inflammation disorders caused by a HFD.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory agent, Allium sativum, High-fat diet, Interleukin-10, Regulatory T cells, Transforming Growth Factor-β