FIG 9.

Astrakurkurone was found to induce CD4⁺ T cells and protective cytokines in vivo. Splenocytes from uninfected, L. donovani-infected, and treated mice were cultured in the presence of Leishmania-crude soluble antigen (25 μg/ml for 12 h). (a) The in vivo treatment reinstated the percentage of CD4⁺ T cells, as estimated by flow cytometry. (b) Simultaneously, the CD4⁺ IFN-γ⁺ T cells were induced to proliferate more in treated mice (4.61%) than in uninfected (1.78%) and infected (0.51%) mice, with the concomitant reduction of the CD4⁺ IL-10⁺ T cells in treated mice (0.97%) compared to that in infected (3.01%) mice. The percentage of CD4⁺ IL-17⁺ T cells steadily increased. Data are representative of results of 5 independent experiments.