Channa striatus capsules induces cytokine conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether Channa striatus capsule induces sputum and cytokine conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study was conducted to pulmonary TB patients who admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sam Ratulangi, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. A total of 36 pulmonary TB patients were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 18) including one group received standart antituberculosis drugs plus Channa striatus capsule and another group received standart antituberculosis drugs plus placebo. Channa striatus capsule was given at a dose of 2 g each time, 3 times per day, for 12 weeks. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-10 were analyses using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: The rate of positive sputum smear decline was more pronounced in the Channa striatus group but did not reach statistically different value between groups. The levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 were not significantly different in Channa striatus group compared to placebo group at baseline (week 0). But at week 12, the supplementation of Channa striatus capsule significantly decreased TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 levels compared to baseline. In placebo groups, there were no significant differences for IL-10 levels at week 12, but the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ significantly decreased. Conclusion: Adjunctive supplementation of Channa striatus capsules accelerated the beneficial therapeutic effect of TB chemotherapy by improving cytokine response.