• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.644-653
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• 2024

Considering the emergence of various infectious diseases, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people's attention has shifted towards immune health. Consequently, immune-enhancing functional foods have been increasingly consumed. Hence, developing new immune-enhancing functional food products is needed. Pinus densiflora pollen can be collected from the male red pine tree, which is commonly found in Korea. P. densiflora pollen extract (PDE), obtained by water extraction, contained polyphenols (216.29 ± 0.22 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (35.14 ± 0.04 mg CE/100 g). PDE significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but, did not exhibit cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells. Western blot results indicated that PDE induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. PDE also significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of cytokines and the phosphorylation of IKKα/β and p65, as well as the activation and degradation of IκBα. Additionally, western blot analysis of cytosolic and nuclear fractions and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that the translocation of p65 to the nucleus after PDE treatment. These results confirmed that PDE increases the production of cytokines, NO, and ROS by activating NF-κB. Therefore, PDE is a promising nutraceutical candidate for immune-enhancing functional foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2018

Nanometric Lactobacillus plantarum nF1 (nLp-nF1) is a biogenics consisting of dead L. plantarum cells pretreated with heat and a nanodispersion process. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing effects of nLp-nF1 in vivo and in vitro. To evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of nLp-nF1, mice immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide (CPP) treatment were administered with nLp-nF1. As expected, CPP restricted the immune response of mice, whereas oral administration of nLp-nF1 significantly increased the total IgG in the serum, and cytokine production (interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$)) in bone marrow cells. Furthermore, nLp-nF1 enhanced the production of splenic cytokines such as IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$, and interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$). In vitro, nLp-nF1 stimulated the immune response by enhancing the production of cytokines such as IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$. Moreover, nLp-nF1 given a food additive enhanced the immune responses when combined with various food materials in vitro. These results suggest that nLp-nF1 could be used to strengthen the immune system and recover normal immunity in people with a weak immune system, such as children, the elderly, and patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.275-281
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• 2019

Polysaccharides produced in microorganisms and plants are known to increase the immune response in the body. We proposed analysis of beta-glucan contents of phellinus linteus fruit body (FB) and mycelium (MC) cultured in cudrania tricuspidata. Also, we examined whether fruit body and mycelium can increase the immune response in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression animal models. We injected cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg) twice to produce immunosuppression mice. Then, FB (200 mg/kg) and MC (200 mg/kg) were oral administered for 14 days. In order to confirm the immune-enhancing effect of FB and MC, we analyzed spleen weight, the number of immune cells, cytokines, and immunoglobulins levels. Cyclophosphamide decreased the weight of spleen, the number of immune cells. However, FB and MC have significantly increased the weight of spleen, the number of white blood cell, lymphocyte and monocyte. In addition, they have significantly increased immune-related cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-${\gamma}$) and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) levels. As a results, phellinus linteus fruit body (FB) and mycelium (MC) cultured in cudrania tricuspidata can be used as effective natural materials for immune-enhancing.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2004

Objective : The present experiments were designed to study on the immune-enhancing effect of Mountain grown ginseng, Mountain cultivated ginseng, and Panax ginseng Method : In order to compare the immune-enhancing effect of moutain grown ginseng, moutain cultivated ginseng and Panax ginseng, the study was done through the forced swimming test (FST), measurement of T helper Th1, Th2 cytokines and fatigue related factors. Result : Moutain grown ginseng and panax ginseng decreased the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Total-protein (T-protein) in serum were investigated. The serum achieved from ginseng administered mouse showed higher BUN, T-protein than the control. moutain grown ginseng administered group showed lower LDH than the control group. moutain grown ginseng administered mouse showed higher glucose than the control. Creatinine was same in either experimental or control group. Ginseng-induced cytokine production in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages were compared. Moutain cultivated ginseng (10-4 dilution) and panax ginseng (10-3 dilution) were increased the interferon $IFN-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control (about 1.6-fold P<0.05) at 48 h. Moutain grown ginseng (10-4 dilution) was increased the $IFN-{\gamma}$ and interleukin IL-4 production compared with media control (about l.4-fold for $IFN-{\gamma}$ and 1.6-fold for IL-4 P<0.05) at 48 h. Moutain grown ginseng (10-3 dilution) and moutain cultivated ginseng (10-4 dilution) were increased the turmor necrosis factor $TNF-{\alpha}$ production compared with $rIFN-{\gamma}$ treated cells (about 1.9-fold for $TNF-{\alpha}$ P<0.05), respectively. Moutain cultivated ginseng (10-3 dilution) was increased the IL-12 production compared with $rIFN-{\gamma}$ treated cell (about 1.7-fold for IL-12 P<0.05). Conclusion : These data suggest that three different three kinds of ginseng act on immune responses in different aspects.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The immunomodulatory effect of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has been reported, but studies on its mechanism are still lacking. This study was undertaken to confirm whether the hydrolyzed and fermented PG extract (HFPGE) obtained by adding hydrolysis and fermentation to the extraction process has an immune-enhancing effect in the in vivo system. MATERIALS/METHODS: Five-week-old BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control group (NOR), control group (CON), 150 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day HFPGE-treated group (T150), and 300 mg/kg BW/day HFPGE-treated group (T300). The mice were administered HFPGE for 4 weeks and intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide (CPA, 80 mg/kg BW/day) on day 6, 7, and 8, respectively, to induce immunosuppression. The levels of immunoglobulins (Igs) and cytokines were measured in the serum. In splenocytes, proliferation and cytokine levels were measured. RESULTS: Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM levels were observed to decrease after CPA treatment, which was recovered by HFPGE administration. The levels of serum interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-8, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were also decreased after exposure to CPA but increased after HFPGE administration. Decreased splenocyte proliferation was seen in CPA-treated mice, but was observed to increase in the T150 and T300 groups as compared to the NOR group. Compared to the CON group, splenocyte proliferation stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the HFPGE-treated groups was significantly increased. The cytokines secreted by ConA-stimulated splenocytes (IL-2, IL-12, interferon-γ, TNF-α) were increased in the T150 and T300 groups, and cytokines secreted by LPS-stimulated splenocytes (IL-4, IL-8, TGF-β) were also increased by HFPGE administration. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HFPGE stimulates the immunity in immunosuppressed conditions, thereby enhancing the immune response. Therefore, it is expected that HFPGE has the potential to be used as functional food and medicine for immune recovery in various immunocompromised situations.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2022

Natural products are important sources for drug development because they have a wide variety of useful biological properties. Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) has been used as an herbal medicine. The present study was designed to evaluate the immune-enhancing effect of AGN in the cyclophosphamide (CP) induced immune-suppressed mice. As the result, we found that CP induced the reductions of body ratio, spleen weights, hematopoietic parameter and cytokine productions in mice. However, AGN recovered immunosuppression-mediated decreased body ratio, spleen and thymus weights as well as regulation of hematopoietic parameter including white blood cell, lymphocyte, and neutrophil. According to histological study, AGN regenerated on CP-mediated injured spleen. Moreover, AGN increased the CP-induced reduction of cytokine expression in spleen tissue. Collectively, the findings provide experimental evidence that AGN may be a candidate for health-improving herbs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1395-1403
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• 2020

There is an increasing interest in using inactivated probiotics to modulate the host immune system and protect against pathogens. As the immunomodulatory function of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 12777BP (LBB) and its mechanism is unclear, we investigated the effect of LBB on immune response based on the hypothesis that LBB might exert stimulatory effects on immunity. In the current study, we demonstrate that administration of LBB can exert immune-stimulatory effects and promote clearance of foreign matters through enhancing phagocytosis. Treatment with LBB induced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide in macrophages. Importantly, LBB directly increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages against bacterial particles. LBB was able to promote the production of TNF-α in bone marrow-derived macrophages and splenocytes and also increase the proliferation rate of splenocytes, suggesting that the immune-stimulating activity of LBB can be observed in primary immune cells. Investigation into the molecular mechanism responsible revealed that LBB upregulates TAK1 activity and its downstream ERK, p38, and JNK signaling pathways. To further confirm the immunomodulatory capability of LBB in vivo, we orally administered LBB to mice and assessed the effect on primary splenocytes. Splenocytes isolated from LBB-treated mice exhibited higher TNF-α expression and proliferative capacity. These results show that heat-killed L. brevis, a wildly consumed probiotic, may provide protection against pathogens through enhancing host immunity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 2022

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is well known as traditional herbal medicine, and ginseng berries are known to exhibit potential immune-enhancing functions. However, little is known about the in vivo immunomodulatory activity of Korean ginseng berries. In this study, crude Korean ginseng berries polysaccharides (GBP) were isolated and their immunomodulatory activities were investigated using cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressive BALB/c mice. In CY-treated mice, oral administration of GBP (50-500 mg/kg BW) remarkably increased their spleen sizes and spleen indices and activated NK cell activities. GBP also resulted in the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes (coordinating with ConA: plant mitogen which is known to stimulate T-cell or LPS: endotoxin which binds receptor complex in B cells to promote the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, GBP significantly stimulated mRNA expression levels of immune-associated genes including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in CY-treated mice. These results indicate that GBP is involved in immune effects against CY-induced immunosuppression. Thus, GBP could be developed as an immunomodulation agent for medicinal or functional food application.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.12-22
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate immune enhancing effect of Houttuyniae Herba water extract(HW) on RAW 264.7 cell of mouse macrophages. Methods: Effects of HW on productions of nitric oxide(NO) and hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were measured. Effect of HW on production of cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ in RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. All of results were represented P<0.05 compared to the normal. Results: 1. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly NO production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 2. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly hydrogen peroxide production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 3. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-$1{\beta}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 4. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 5. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. Conclusions: These results suggest that HW has immune enhancing activity related with its increasement of NO, hydrogen peroxide, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in macrophages.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.86-86
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• 2020

The leaves of Staphylea bumalda (S. bumalda) as a deciduous tree distributed in Korea, China and Japan are used to treat respiratory diseases or inflammation. However, there is no scientific research on the immune-enhancing activity of S. bumalda leaves. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of water extracts from S. bumalda leaves (SBL) on the macrophage activity using mouse macrophage cells, RAW264.7. SBL increased production of immunomodulators such as NO, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 in RAW264.7 cells and activated phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 cells. Inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 blocked SBL-mediated production of immunomodulators in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SBL-mediated production of immunomodulators was attenuated by JNK inhibition in RAW264.7 cells. SBL increased JNK phosphorylation, while Inhibition of TLR2 and TLR4 blocked SBL-mediated JNK phosphorylation in RAW264.7 cells. These results are thought to be evidence that SBL activates JNK through stimulation of TLR2 and TLR4 in macrophage to induce the production of immunomodulators. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, SBL inhibited over-production of immunomodulators. Summarizing the results, SBL showed immunostimulatory activity under normal conditions and immunosuppressive activity under LPS-induced excessive immune response conditions.