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Volume 27
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10.3390/ijms27156811
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells

by
Boitumelo Setlhare
1,*,
Mlungisi Ngcobo
1,*,
Gila Lustig
1,2,
Herbert Chikafu
3,
Nomusa Zondo
2,
Siphathimandla Authority Nkabinde
4,
Magugu Nkabinde
4 and
Nceba Gqaleni
1,5,6
1
Discipline of Traditional Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
2
Centre for Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
3
Department of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
4
Ungangezulu, Dundee 3000, South Africa
5
Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4041, South Africa
6
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), K-RITH Tower Building, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(15), 6811; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156811
Submission received: 2 May 2026 / Revised: 26 June 2026 / Accepted: 28 June 2026 / Published: 29 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Natural Products for Human Health and Disease)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

During HIV infection, the immune system initiates an immune response to control the viremia. In this in vitro study, we investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-HIV potential of a traditional medicine formulation, Product Nkabinde (PN). A freeze-dried extract of PN was used to determine cytotoxicity in MT4 cells. Non-cytotoxic doses were used to evaluate the immunomodulatory and anti-HIV effects of PN using neutralization, prophylactic and treatment approaches. Post-treatment, cytokine quantification and p24 detection were performed. In the neutralization strategy, PN restored IL-1α (p = 0.0389) and IL-10 (p = 0.0443) to levels of uninfected cells. It also reduced HIV-induced elevations in IL-8 (p = 0.035), IP-10 (p = 0.0886), and MCP-1 (p = 0.0733) compared to HIV-infected cells. In the prophylactic approach, HIV infection upregulated IL-1α (p = 0.676), which was suppressed by PN. In the treatment strategy, PN reversed the elevated levels of IL-1α (p = 0.049). IL-10 was fully restored by PN to levels of uninfected cells. In all strategies, PN induced a significant and dose-dependent decrease in HIV replication. These findings demonstrate that PN exerts potent immunomodulatory effects all strategies used by reversing HIV-induced cytokine dysregulation, thereby inducing significant anti-HIV effects.
Keywords: traditional medicine; MT4 cells; HIV infection; cytokine secretion; immunomodulation traditional medicine; MT4 cells; HIV infection; cytokine secretion; immunomodulation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Setlhare, B.; Ngcobo, M.; Lustig, G.; Chikafu, H.; Zondo, N.; Nkabinde, S.A.; Nkabinde, M.; Gqaleni, N. Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 6811. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156811

AMA Style

Setlhare B, Ngcobo M, Lustig G, Chikafu H, Zondo N, Nkabinde SA, Nkabinde M, Gqaleni N. Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(15):6811. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156811

Chicago/Turabian Style

Setlhare, Boitumelo, Mlungisi Ngcobo, Gila Lustig, Herbert Chikafu, Nomusa Zondo, Siphathimandla Authority Nkabinde, Magugu Nkabinde, and Nceba Gqaleni. 2026. "Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 15: 6811. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156811

APA Style

Setlhare, B., Ngcobo, M., Lustig, G., Chikafu, H., Zondo, N., Nkabinde, S. A., Nkabinde, M., & Gqaleni, N. (2026). Product Nkabinde Mediates Cytokine Modulation and Antiviral Activity in HIV-Infected MT4 Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(15), 6811. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156811

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