FIG 5.

Astrakurkurone-mediated killing of intracellular amastigotes involved TLR9. (a to c) Expression of TLR2 (a), TLR4 (b), and TLR9 (c) in treated L. donovani-infected macrophages in vitro. (d) Pretreatment with bafilomycin A1 (TLR9 antagonist) alone and in addition to astrakurkurone curbed the parasite killing, suggesting the involvement of TLR9, a conclusion which is further strengthened by the fact that TLR9 agonist CpG enhances the antiamastigote potential of astrakurkurone. Values are means ± standard errors (n = 5) from 3 independent experiments (*, P < 0.004; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.003; ****, P < 0.001).