Immunostimulating Activity of Phellinus linteus Extracts to B-lymphcyte

Phellinus linteus was examined on its immunostimulating activities using an in vitro imunization and plaque forming cell assay. When lymphocytes were exposed to the extract of Phellinus linteus, the number of antibody forming cell was increased. In in vitro plaque forming cell assay, the immunostimulating effect was about 4.8 and 5.0 times of unimmunized control in polyconal and T-independent antibody response, respectively. Especially, Phellinus linteus significantly increased the antigenicity of TNP-LPS used as T-independent antigen. But Phellinus linteus did now show a mitogenic effect on B-lymphcytes. These results suggest that immunostimulating activity of Phillinus lintues might be associated with a functional stimulation of B-lympohocyte involved in humoral immune response.