• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2004

The effect of immune activation by Echinacea purpurea was investigated by measuring total immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgM. and the radioprotective effect of immune activation by Echinacea purpurea was investigated by measuring T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of mice following whole body irradiation. Echinacea purpurea activated macrophages to stimulate $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in association with the secondary activation of T lymphocytes, resulting in a decrease in IgG and IgM production. Cytokines released from macrophages in mouse peripheral blood after Echinacea purpurea administration activated helper T cells to proliferate. In addition, activated macrophages in association with the secondary T lymphocyte activation increased $IFN-{\gamma}$ production and stimulated proliferation of cytotoxic T cells and suppressor T cells, indicating the activation of cell-mediated immune responses.