Immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma longa L. extract in LP-BM5 murine leukemia viruses-induced murine acquired immune deficiency syndrome

The immune system protects the body against harmful substances and infectious agents. Normally, the body can maintain a state of immune homeostasis. However, failure of immune homeostasis results in severe diseases when the immune system is defective. We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of Curcuma longa L. extract in LP-BM5 MuLV (murine leukemia viruses)-induced murine AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Mice were divided into six groups: normal control, infected control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection), positive control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of red ginseng 200 mg/kg), CL50 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 50 mg/kg), CL200 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 200 mg/kg), and CL500 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 500 mg/kg). We found that dietary supplementation with Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract inhibited elevation of spleen, lymph node, and liver weights as well as reduction of T- and B-cell proliferation and natural killer cell activity induced by LP-BM5 MuLV infection. Moreover, Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract inhibited Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ)/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine imbalance and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In conclusion, these data suggest that Curcuma longa L. has immunomodulatory effects in LP-BM5 MuLV-induced murine AIDS.