Introduction: Gentian Violet (GV) is a triphenylmethane industrial dye that is known for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-helminthic and anti-tumor effects. Although many studies focused on determining the biological and pharmacological applications of GV, its exact effect on the immune response has not been elucidated yet.
Methods: In this study, we investigate the immunomodulatory effects of GV in BALB/c mice after intraperitoneal injection of the dye by assessing cytokines levels in the spleen.
Results: Our data show that GV-treated mice have decreased level of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) and increased level of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4) in their spleens. In addition, IFN-γ that can modulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production was upregulated in GV-treated mice.
Conclusion: Together, these findings suggest an anti-inflammatory activity of GV that warrant further studies investigating the potential of GV in immunotherapy.