Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2004; 9: 20
The host response to infections comprises the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6), which induce symptoms of sickness behaviour characterised by anorexia, depressed activity, listlessness or malaise. An aqueous ethanolic extract from roots of Pelargonium sidoides (Umckaloabo) is marketed for the treatment of respiratory infections and related ear, nose and throat disorders. It was the aim of our study to investigate if the therapeutic efficacy of Umckaloabo could at least partly be mediated by modulation of this condition.
Sickness behaviour was induced in male NMRI mice by injection (i.p.) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 400 μg/kg). One hour later behavioural effects were examined in the ‘light/dark box model’ by monitoring exploratory activity for 3 min.
LPS injection markedly increased the time spent in the light box and reduced the number of changes between both compartments. Oral administration of a P. sidoides extract (100–400 mg/kg, 1h before LPS) dose-dependently antagonised these effects. Fractionation of the extract revealed that this activity is mainly due to high-molecular constituents. The biochemical mechanism behind the action is still unsolved as analysis of plasma did not disclose any effect of treatment on the concentration of cytokines and nitric oxide.
The results demonstrate that Umckaloabo alleviates the symptoms of sickness behaviour and may by these means promote recovery during infections.
