Interferon-Gamma and Interlukin-4 Patterns in BALB/c Mice Suffering From Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Treated With Cantharidin

Abstract

Background:Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a health problem in the world. Lesions should be treated on cosmetically or functionally important sites, such as the face and hands. Cantharidin is a terpenoid compound produced naturally by beetles of Meloidae and Oedemeridae families.Objectives:The current study aimed to investigate the effect of cantharidin on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) lesions and IFN-γ and IL-4 patterns in infected BALB/c mice.Materials and Methods:Infected BALB/c mice were divided into five groups as: untreated (control group), eucerin-treated and 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5% cantharidin-treated. Lesions diameter was measured by Vernier caliper every three days for four weeks. Cytokines levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using U-CyTech kit.Results:The results indicated that treatment with cantharidin exacerbates lesions compared with the controls, except for 0.05% cantharidin dose that restrained lesion growth significantly. Interferon gamma level in cantharidin-treated groups was significantly less than that of the control group. But interlukin-4 level was similar among the groups.Conclusions:The current study results indicated that high doses of cantharidin exacerbates leishmaniasis lesion, but low dose of cantharidin inhibits lesion growth.

Unravelling the potential of insects for medicinal purposes – A comprehensive review

“… Actinomycetes [ 127 ] Coleoptera Meloidae Meloidae sp. Terpenoid - Cantharidin [ 128 ] Scarabaeidae Copris tripartitus Waterhouse AMP - Coprisin [ 129 ] Diptera Muscidae Musca domestica L. Proteins - Lectin [ 130 ] AMP - Cecropin, attacin, lebocin [ 131 ] Calliphoridae Lucilia sericata (Meigen) AMP - Lucifensin, lucimycin, attacins, cecropins, diptericins, proline-rich peptides, and sarcotoxins [ 132 ] Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) Excretions and secretions [ 133 ] Calliphora Vicina Robineau-Desvoidy Excretions and secretions [ 134 ] Sarconesiopsis magellanica (Le Guillou) Excretions and secretions [ 135 ] Drosophilidae Drosophila melanogaster Meigen AMP – Drosocin, Mtk-1, Mtk-2 [ 136 ] Hemiptera Dinidoridae Coridius chinensis (Dallas) …”

“…For example, coprisin [ 129 ], lebocin [ 148 ], drosocin [ 136 ], pronectin [ 143 ], cecropin [ 146 ], etc. Besides, certain unsaturated fatty acid [ 125 ], protein (e.g., lectin [ 130 ] and lysozyme [ 137 ], and terpenoid (e.g., cantharidin [ 128 ]) also showed antimicrobe/virus effects. The insect associated microbes contributed as well, for example the actinomycetes isolated from Termitidae sp [ 127 ].…”