Effect of Panax ginseng Extracts on the Immunotoxicity of Ethanol

Ethanol의 면역독성에 대한 인삼엑기스의 영향

Experiments were performed on mice to investigate the effect of panax ginseng extracts on the immunotoxicity of ethanol. Immune response were evaluated by antibody production, Arthus reaction, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), Rosette froming cell (RFC) and macrophage activity in mice, sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells. The weight of liver, spleen and thymus were measured. Following results obtained in this experiment. The exposure of ethanol decreased humoral and cellular immune response, the body weight and macrophage activity. Ginseng extracts such as ethanol extract, petroleum ether extract and n-butanol fraction were significantly increased the body weight. The administration of ginseng ethanol extract and ginseng petroleum ether extract were restored or increased humoral and cellular immune response. Macrophage activity was decreased by ethanol, but restored by the ginseng extracts.