• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated in vitro immunostimulatory activity of fruit extracts from Pyrus ussuriensis var. hakunensis (Nakai) T.B. Lee (PUF) using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. PUF increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as NO, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. The inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 blocked PUF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of MAPKs signaling pathway reduced PUF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors. From these results, PUF may have immunostimulatory activity via TLR2/4-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway. Therefore, PUF expected to be used as a potential immune-enhancing agent.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.536-541
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated whether Hibiscus manihot flowers (HMF) exhibits immunostimulatory activity in RAW264.7 cells. HMF increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as NO, iNOS, IL-1β and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. TLR2 and TLR4 blocked HMF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway reduced HMF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors. From these results, HMF is thought to promote the production of immunostimulatory factors through activating TLR2/4/MAPK signaling in macrophages. It is believed that HMF can be developed as an agent related to immune enhancement in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.934-940
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• 2023

Syneilesis palmata (SP) is a traditional medicinal plant. SP has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activities. However, there is currently no research available on the immunostimulatory activity of SP. Therefore, in this study, we report that S. palmata leaves (SPL) activate macrophages. Increased secretion of both immunostimulatory mediators and phagocytic activity was observed in SPL-treated RAW264.7 cells. However, this effect was reversed by the inhibition of TLR2/4. In addition, inhibition of p38 decreased the secretion of immunostimulatory mediators induced by SPL, and inhibition of TLR2/4 decreased the phosphorylation of p38 induced by SPL. SPL augmented p62/SQSTM1 and LC3-II expression. The increase in protein levels of p62/SQSTM1 and LC3-II induced by SPL was decreased by the inhibition of TLR2/4. The results obtained from this study suggest that SPL activates macrophages via TLR2/4-dependent p38 activation and induces autophagy in macrophages via TLR2/4 stimulation.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.87-87
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• 2022

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in immune enhancement and anti-obesity is increasing. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether Kadsura japonica fruits (KJF) exhibits immunostimulatory activity and anti-obesity activity. KJF increased the production of immunostimulatory factors and phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. Inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 blocked KJF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway reduced KJF-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors, and the activation of MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by KJF suppressed the inhibition of TLR2/4. KJF attenuated the lipid accumulation and the protein expression such as CEBPα, PPARγ, perilipin-1, adiponectin, and FABP4 related to the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, KJF inhibited excessive proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells and protein expressions such as β-catenin and cyclin D1 related to cell growth. These findings indicate that KJF may have immunostimulatory activity and anti-obesity activity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2004

Background: We previously reported that ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng had an immunostimulatory activity such as mitogenic activity, activation of macrophages and killer cells, and production of a variety of cytokines which resulted in antitumor and antiseptic effects. We further purified $\alpha$-(1$\longrightarrow$6)-glucan and $\beta$-(2$\longrightarrow$6)-fructan from the ginsan with size exclusion and ion-exchange column chromatography successively. In this study, we performed the structure-based activity of ginsan by comparison with known polysacchrides such as $\beta$-glucan, curdlan, laminarin, levan, dextran, lentinan and OK-432. Methods: To investigate the immunostimulatory activity of several polysaccharide compounds, we investigated the stimulation of lymphocytes proliferation, the generation of activated killer cells and the secretion of nitrites from activated macrophages. Results: Of polysaccharides tested, curdlan and ginsan stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, suggesting that the molecular weight and composition of polysaccharide are dependent on the mitogenic activity. The production of nitric oxide was significantly increased in curdlan, levan, ginsan and its fraction, indicating that fructan has also capacity to activate macrophages and may devote to kill pathogens. In addition, the activation of macrophages was seemed to be independent of molecular weight of polysaccharide. The generation of AK cells was exhibited in order of curdlan, OK-432> F1, ginsan, F3> levan> etc. The AK activity may be dependent on molecular weight and composition of polysaccharides. Conclusion: Unfortunately, purified polysaccharide from ginsan were less active on immunostimulatory activity than mixed compounds of polysaccharides. From the viewpoint of structure and activity relationships, we found several characteristic features.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 2021

Bok choy is one of Brassica vegetables widely consumed worldwide. Brassica vegetables have been reported to exert various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-cancer and cardioprotective activity. However, studies on immunostimulatory activity of bok choy sprout have not been conducted properly. Thus, in this study, we investigated in vitro immunostimulatory activity of bok choy sprout extract (BCS) using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Our results showed that BCS increased the production of immunomodulators such as NO, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and MCP-1, and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. BCS activated MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. However, BCS-mediated production of immunomodulators was dependent on JNK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. the mRNA expression of TLR2 were significantly increased by BCS, TLR2 inhibition by anti-TLR2 dramatically suppressed the production of immunomodulators by BCS. In addition, TLR2 inhibition by anti-TLR2 significantly reduced BCS-mediated phosphorylation level of AKT, JNK and NF-κB. From these results, BCS may have immunostimulatory activity via TLR2-MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Therefore, BCS expected to be used as a potential immune-enhancing agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.1325-1333
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• 2014

Sasang constitutional medicine is a Korean traditional medicine in which individuals are classified into four constitutional types, Taeyangin, Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin. To develop new functional Saengsik products, we investigated the immunostimulatory activities of raw materials of Saengsik (milled rice, barley, Job's tears, soybean, adzuki bean, millet, eggplants, radish, carrot, Lentinus edodes, Agaricus bisporus, and Auricularia auricula-judae) and Saengsik products (Mix 1~6) in primary immune cells (lymphocytes and macrophages) isolated from blood of Taeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin types. Increased cell proliferation as well as NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ protein production by immune cells treated with extracts of materials of Saengsik and Saengsik products were measured as immunostimulatory parameters. We chose milled rice, adzuki bean, radish, and Lentinus edodes to study the immunostimulatory activity of Teaumin, barley, soybean, eggplants, and Agaricus bisporus to study the immunostimulatory activity of Soyangin, as well as Job's tears, adzuki bean, carrot, and Auricularia auricula-judae to study the immunostimulatory activity of Soeumin. The mixtures (Mix 1~6) were made with different kinds and ratios of Saengsik materials based on the immunostimulatory activities of Saengsik materials. The immunostimulatory activity of Taeumin was highest in Mix 2 (rice 60%, adzuki bean 20%, radish 10%, and Lentinus edodes 10%) extract-treated immune cells among all six mixtures. The immunostimulatory activity of Soyangin responded best to Mix 4 (barley 60%, soybean 20%, eggplants 10%, and Agaricus bisporus 10%) among the six extracts (Mix 1~6). The increased immunostimulatory activity of Mix 6 (Job's tears 60%, adzuki bean 20%, carrot 10%, and Auricularia auricula-judae 10%)-treated immune cells was higher than the other five extracts (Mix 1~5). Accordingly, Mix 2, Mix 4, and Mix 6 may be useful as mixtures for Saengsik products having personalized immunostimulatory activities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2016

This study examined the immunostimulatory activities on a 70% ethanol extract of raw garlic (RG) and steamed garlic (SG) grown in Korea, Japan, and America using primary immune cells isolated from the blood of Soyangin, Taeumin, and Soeumin volunteers. The Soeumin showed the highest cell proliferation, NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from the immune cells treated with a 70% ethanol raw garlic extract (RGE), followed Taeumin, and Soyangin. The constitution differences were not observed for the same ethanol streamed garlic extract (SGE) and the SGE showed stronger immunostimulatory activities than RGE. The immunostimulatory activities of RG and SG showed a significant difference among countries and the immunostimulatory activities were the highest in RG and SG grown in Korea, followed by RG and SG grown in Japan, RG and SG grown in America. The effect of RGE and SGE on antioxidant activity showed similar trends.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.44-44
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• 2023

Syneilesis palmata (SP) has been used as a traditional medicinal plant and vegetable. SP was reported to exert pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-HIV. However, there are no studies on the immunostimulatory activity of SP. Thus, in this study, we report that S. palmata leaves (SPL) induce the activation of macrophages. An increase in both secretions of immunostimulatory mediators and phagocytotic activity was observed in SPL-treated RAW264.7 cells. However, this was reversed by inhibition of TLR2/4. In addition, the p38 inhibition reduced the SPL-mediated secretion of immunostimulatory mediators, and the SPL-mediated p38 activation was blocked by the TLR2/4 inhibition. SPL augmented both p62/SQSTM1 and LC3-II. TLR2/4 inhibition blocked the SPL-mediated increase of p62/SQSTM1 and LC3-II. These findings indicate that SPL may activate macrophages through TLR2/4-dependent p38 activation and activate autophagy through TLR2/4 stimulation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.697-703
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• 2022

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in immune enhancement is increasing. Although the immune-enhancing activity of plants of the genus Hibiscus has been reported, there is no study on the immune-enhancing activity of H. syriacus. Thus, in this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activity of Hibiscus syriacus leaves (HSL) in mouse macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, and immunosuppressed mice. HSL increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and activated the phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. The HSL-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors was dependent on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in RAW264.7 cells. In the immunosuppressed mouse model, HSL increased the spleen index, the levels of the cytokines, and the numbers of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Taken together, HSL may be considered to have immune-enhancing activity and be expected to be used as a potential immune-enhancing agent.