• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-143
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• 2017

Objectives : This trial aimed to determine if Wasong (Orostachys japonicus) extract can enhance immune system and is safe enough to be approved as a health functional food. Methods : Total 62 people, aged 45 and older, will be recruited to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. This study will compare Wasong extract and placebo. Wasong group will take 1g of Wasong extract, once a day, for 8 weeks. Placebo group will take 1g of crystalline cellulose as placebo, once a day, for 8 weeks. Outcomes will be measured at the baseline, the end of 4th week, and 8th week. Primary outcomes are the ratio of NK cells/total lymphocytes and the ratio of T-helper cells/T-suppressor cells. Secondary outcomes are total white blood cell count, the ratio of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes in total leukocytes, the ratio of total T cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, and B cells to lymphocytes, the amount of blood IgM, IgG, IgA, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG, and blood metabolite target &global analysis. Results : This trial was approved by institutional review board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital (registry number: 2016006), and registered in Clinical Research information Service, one of WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (registry number: PRE20161006-002). Recruitment opened in February 2017 and is supposed to be completed by August 2017. The result is expected to be published by June 2018. Conclusion : This trial will provide clinical information to determine the efficacy and safety of Wasong in enhancing immune system of middle-aged and older people.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.99-128
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• 1997

In order to investigate the effects of Kyegyoksan on antitumor effects after Sarcoma 180 cells transplantation into the peritoneal cavity or left groin in mice, and immune depression in mice induced by methotrexate, the extracts of its herbal medicines were orally administered for 14 or 21 days. Experimental studies were performed for measureance of $IC_{50}$ in MTT assay, mean survival days, tumor and body weights for antitumor effects, delayed type hypersensitivity, hemagglutinine titer, hemolysin titer, rosette forming cells, interleukin-2 productivity, lymphocyte transformation, natural killer cell activity and phagocytic activity for immune responses in the immune depressed ICR mice, and SGOT, SGPT, BUN and creatinine for liver and kidney protective function in SO-rats. The results were obtained as follows: 1. From the results of MTT assay, the Kyegyoksan exstracts for SUN-1 and SUN-C4 were inhibited cell viability. 2. Mean survival time in Kyegyoksan-treated group was slightly increased with no effectiveness, as compared with the control group. 3. Tumor weight in Kyegyoksan-treated group was depressed with the statistical significance, as compared with the control group(p<0.01). 4. Body weight in Kyegyoksan-treated group was incresed with the statistical significance, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). 5. Delayed type hypersensitivity in Kyegyoksan-treated group was slightly incresed with no effctiveness, as compared with the control group. 6. Hemagglutinin titer in Kyegyoksan-treated group was incresed with the statistical significance(p<0.05), but hemolysin titer was slightly incresed with no effectiveness, as compared with the control group. 7. Rosette forming cells in Kyegyoksan-treated group was incresed with the statistical significance, as compared with the control group(p<0.001). 8. Interleukin-2 productivity in Kyegyoksan-treated group was incresed with the statistical significance, as compared with the control group(p<0.001). 9. Lymphocyte transfomation in Kyegyoksan-treated group was incresed with the statistical significance, as compared with the control group(p<0.01). 10. Natural killer cell activity in Kyegyoksan-treated group at E/T ratio 100 : 1 was incresed with the statistical significance(p<0.01), but at E/T ratio 50 : 1 and 10 : 1 was slightly incresed with no effectiveness, as compared with the control group. 11. Phagocytic activity in Kyegyoksan-treated group was slightly incresed with no effectiveness, as compared with the control group. 12. The levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in Kyegyoksan-treated group were not effective change, as compared with the control group. According to the above results, it could be suggested that Kyegyoksan have prominent antitumor effects, enhance both cellular and humoral immunity, and have no injury to liver and kidney functions.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.614-620
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• 2009

We report non-specific immune responses and its disease resistance against Edwardsiella tarda by alga mixture (HE; Hizikia:Ecklonia) in olive flounder for the first time. Five isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.1 MJ $kg^{-1}$) diets were formulated to have 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% of the alga mixture. One of five experimental diets was fed triplicate groups of fish (30 fish/group) to apparent satiation in a flow through system. After a two week feeding, blood was sampled at 3, 6, 12, 24 h after the last feeding for a kinetic measurement of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) activity and healthy fish with similar sizes in each tank were selected and injected with 1 mL of E. tarda suspension ($1.0\times10^7$ CFU/mL) to evaluate the disease resistance of the fish. Dietary supplementation of alga mixtures resulted in significantly higher non-specific immune responses compared with the fish fed the control diet. The cumulative mortality was significantly lower in the fish groups fed alga mixture containing diets than control group in the challenge test with E. tarda. Therefore, the results in this study indicate that dietary supplementation of Hizikia and Ecklonia mixtures enhance the non-specific immune responses and a disease resistance of olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 1999

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of vitamin B complex on stress-induced immune alteration. 21 medical students participated in the study 4 weeks before an academic examination period(baseline), 2 weeks before the exam period and during the exam period. Among them, 10 subjects were given vitamin B complex for 4 weeks, and 11 were not given vitamin B during the whole period. Cell-mediated immune function was measured by lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin(PHA) and interleukin-2(IL-2) production. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R) were used to measure the level of subjective stress and psychopathology. Vitamin group had significantly lower scores of anxiety scale on SCL-90-R than non-vitamin group. No significant differences were found in lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA and IL-2 production between vitamin and non-vitamin groups during each period. There were no significant differences in change of of each of the two immune parameters over time as well as between vitamin and non-vitamin groups. However, lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA was significantly increased over time. In conclusion, it was suggested that vitamin B complex is likely to decrease anxiety level, and that exam stress might enhance lymphocyte proliferation regardless of vitamin B.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4121-4126
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• 2013

Objective: Low dose radiation may stimulate the growth and development of animals, increase life span, enhance fertility, and downgrade the incidence of tumor occurrence.The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect and hormesis in an erythrocyte system induced by low-dose radiation. Methods: Kunming strain male mice were subcutaneously implanted with S180 sarcoma cells in the right inguen as an experimental in situ animal model. Six hours before implantation, the mice were given 75mGy whole body X-ray radiation. Tumor growth was observed 5 days later, and the tumor volume was calculated every other day. Fifteen days later, all mice were killed to measure the tumor weight, and to observe necrotic areas and tumor-infiltration-lymphoreticular cells (TILs). At the same time, erythrocyte immune function and the level of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) were determined. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of EPO and VEGFR of tumor tissues. Results: The mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation had a lower tumor formation rate than those without low dose radiation (P < 0.05). The tumor growth slowed down significantly in mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation; the average tumor weight in mice pre-exposed to low dose radiation was lighter too (P < 0.05). The tumor necrosis areas were larger and TILs were more in the radiation group than those of the group without radiation. The erythrocyte immune function, the level of 2,3-DPG in the low dose radiation group were higher than those of the group without radiation (P < 0.05). After irradiation the expression of EPO of tumor tissues in LDR group decreased with time. LDR-24h, LDR-48h and LDR-72h groups were all statistically significantly different from sham-irradiation group. The expression of VEGFR also decreased, and LDR-24h group was the lowest (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Low dose radiation could markedly increase the anti-tumor ability of the organism and improve the erythrocyte immune function and the ability of carrying $O_2$. Low-dose total body irradiation, within a certain period of time, can decrease the expression of hypoxia factor EPO and VEGFR, which may improve the situation of tumor hypoxia and radiosensitivity of tumor itself.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.701-709
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• 2011

This study was performed to establish an effective extraction method of pig placenta extract that could be used for a putative functional food supplement with immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, we used different temperatures (4, 37, 60, 80, and $100^{\circ}C$) and different solvents (chloroform, NaOH, and phosphate buffered saline [PBS]) to extract the pig placenta. Among the different placenta extracts yielded by the different extraction methods, placenta extract (PE) in PBS at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min (referred to as PE-PBS80) showed a significant increase of nitric oxide production of up to 22.97 ${\mu}M/10^5$ cells at a 1 mg/mL dose (p<0.05 ) in J774A.1 cells than other extracts and control tested. Using PE-PBS80, further animal challenges were performed to identify the immune-enhanced effects. As a result, orally administered PE-PBS80 showed a significant increase in blood T and B cell activities and immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) production. IgG and IgM levels increased to 41.53 mg/mL at a 20 mg dose on day 7 and to 27.38 mg/mL at a 10 mg dose on day 14, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, PE-PBS80 was also able to significantly enhance the immune modulator cytokine levels (p<0.05) compared to the control and vehicle treatments. Among the evaluated cytokines, the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) level increased to 28.89 pg/mL at extract doses of 20 and 50 mg, the interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) level increased to 21.52 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, 50 and 75 mg and the interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ level increased to 18.24 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, and 50 mg. Therefore, this study presents an effective method for extracting pig placenta extracts and also demonstrates that pig placenta extracts had significant immunomodulatory effects not only at the cellular level but also in a mouse model, suggesting that this material could be used as an excellent candidate functional food supplement.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.74-78
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• 2007

Ixeris sonchifolia Hance(Godulbaegi), Oenanthe javanica(Dolminari), Fagopyrum esculentum Moench(Buckwheat), Hizikia fusiforme(Seaweed Fusiforme) and Zingiber officinale Roscoe(Ginger) have all been used as one of the traditional remedies as well as food source. There are few studies However, on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. We previously reported that ex vivo supplementation of each of the Ish, Oj, Fem, Hf and Zor water extracts enhanced the splenocytes proliferation compared to the control group. In this study, the combined immunomodulative effects of a plant water extract mixture containing these five food sources(Ish+Oj+Fem+Hf+Zor) was compared to the individual effect of each. The production of cytokine(IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or without, were detected via ELISA assay using a cytokine kit. After 48hrs of incubation with mitogen(ConA or LPS) stimulation, the mouse splenocyte proliferation in the experimental group had significantly increased at two different concentrations compared to the control group. The results of this study may suggest that the supplementing with a plant water extract mixture could regulate immune function by increasing splenocyte proliferation as well as enhance immune function by regulating the cytokine production capacity activated macrophages in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

Deterioration of the immune function weakens the body's resistance to various infections, leading to a series of diseases. Immunomodulatory biomaterials have been used to reduce the side effects of immunosuppressants or to enhance immunity. Agarwood is the aromatic resinous portion of Aquilaria trees that has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases. Although previous studies have shown that agarwood can improve the body's immunity, evidence for this claim is still lacking. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of the agarwood methanol extracts of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk were evaluated in a RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Based on the results, the agarwood extracts markedly enhanced phagocytosis in the absence of cytotoxicity. The agarwood extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells exhibited the typical morphology of activated macrophages, which are spindle-shaped with elongated filopodia. Agarwood extract also significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, the secretion and expression levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were increased by agarwood treatment. Notably, these are also associated with a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide scientific evidence that agarwood has potential immune-enhancing effects in vitro.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.683-686
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• 2008

$\beta$-Glucans, which were isolated from sangwhang (Phellinus linteus), were subjected to reductive amination and the biological properties of the derivative were investigated. The degree of substitution of the aminated sangwhang $\beta$-glucan was calculated by elemental analysis to be 1.13. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) experiments showed that the aminated derivative increased nitric oxide production. In addition, the amination enhanced in vitro cytotoxic activities against HT1080 and SNU-C2A cell lines. Thus, the aminated derivative is shown to enhance immune systems by the incorporation of amino groups into the polymer structure.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2007

In the study of Stress-Control by Qigong Program, the results were as follows : In modern society, many stress factors affect the human organism, altering and chipping away at our nervous, endocrine, locomotor, reproductive, digestive, respiratory, circulatory and immune systems. The beneficial effects of Qigong can help us to restore our equilibrium and enhance our quality of life. This study was performed to investigate the effect of Qigong on stress and psychological symptoms. Twenty-two subjects were trained Qigong Program a week for 8 weeks. The stress index of subjects and psychosomatic symptoms was compared before and after Qigong Program and was significantly decreased after Qigong training. It means that the stress index and psychosomatic symptoms were improved by Qigong training.