Allicin enhances antimicrobial activity of macrophages during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Parveen Sobia
Samreen Fatima
Gobardhan Das
Mona Singh
Debapriya Bhattacharya
Santosh Kumar
Ved Prakash Dwivedi
Ashima Bhaskar
Luc Van Kaer
Journal: Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Adjunct therapy; Allicin; Garlic extract; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; T cells.
Affiliations: Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: ., Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India; Center of Biotechnology, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University Kalinganagar, Ghatikia, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India., Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India., Signal Transduction Laboratory-1, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India., Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India., College of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa., Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA., Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Ethnopharmacological relevance: The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) strains has severely hampered global efforts towards tuberculosis (TB) eradication. The internationally accepted therapy "Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS)" is lengthy, and incorporates risks for the generation of drug-resistant M.tb variants. Multiple and extremely drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) variants of TB are now widespread throughout the globe, and totally drug-resistant (TDR) strains have appeared. Therefore, new classes of antibiotics are urgently needed to combat these deadly organisms. Historically, garlic is known to kill mycobacterial strains, and its active compound, allicin, kills various microorganisms. Here we have shown that allicin not only reduced the bacterial burden in the lungs of mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), but also induces strong anti-tubercular immunity. Materials and methods: In the present study, the anti-mycobacterial and immunomodulatory activity of garlic extract and its pure constituent allicin were demonstrated based on several in vitro and in vivo experiments in murine model of tuberculosis. Furthermore, the validation of study was done by immunoblots showing the modulation of MAPK and SAPK/JNK signaling by allicin in macrophages. Results: Here, we report that allicin/garlic extract exhibits strong anti-mycobacterial responses in vitro and in vivo against drug-sensitive, MDR and XDR strains of TB. In addition to direct killing, allicin also induced pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Moreover, allicin/garlic extract treatment in murine models of infection resulted in induction of strong protective Th1 response, leading to drastic reduction in mycobacterial burden. These results indicated that allicin/garlic extract has both antibacterial and immunomodulatory activity. Furthermore, garlic extract reversed the immune dampening effects of frontline anti-TB drugs. Conclusion: Allicin/garlic extract alone or as an adjunct to classical antibiotics holds great promise for treatment of drug-sensitive as well as drug-resistant TB. These results warrant further study and validation of allicin for treatment of TB. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figures 3 and 4. * Red boxes: Four lanes in the actin panels of Figures 3D and 4B appear to look similar. Reported to the journal in October 2015, but no action taken as of today. ![file] ,