• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2004

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. As a component of traditional health products, Ginger is known to be effective as appetite enhancer, anticold and anti-inflammation. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger in mouse, using in vitro and ex vivo experiments. In vitro experiment, the mice splenocytes proliferation and three kinds of cytokines (IL-1 $\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$) prodution by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Ginger were used to indicate the immunomodulative effect. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger ex vivo, water extract of Ginger was orally administrated into mice, and isolated splencytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. Ex vivo experiment, six to seven week old mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extract of finger was orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentractions (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W./day). In vitro study, the splenocytes proliferation was increased when water extract was supplemented in the range of 50-500 $\mu$l/ml concentration. In case of cytokines production, IL-1 $\beta$, IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ released by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the supplementation of water extract of the Ginger. Ex vivo experiment, the highest proliferation of splenocytes and production of cytokines by activated peritoneal macrophages were seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg B.W./day. In conclusion, this study suggests that Ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and enhancing the cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2007

Ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has long been used as a food source in Korea, and it is widely used as a dietary condiment throughout the world. The present study focused on the immunomodulative effects of ginger extracts via in vitro experiments. To identify the immune-activation fractions of the plant, we performed the systematic fractionation of ginger with methanol, hexane, chloroform, butanol and water for separation and refining. The results showed that the chloroform fraction had the highest immune cell activation properties. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation as well as the cytokine production capacity of activated macrophages.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.780-785
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• 2004

Recently many investigators have initiated searches for immunomodulating substances from natural food sources. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts of the plant were orally administrated into mice, and isolated splenocytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. In order to identify its ex vivo effect six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of ginger were orally administrated every other day for two weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT assay. The result of ex vivo study showed that the highest proliferation of splenocytes and macrophage activatation was seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg b. w. of ginger water extracts. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts nay enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2002

Aster scaber $T_{HUNB}$ (AST ; Charm-chui), a potent herbal medicinal plant, has a long tradition of use, being harvested as a wild plant, is said to stimulate appetite, and may act as a diuretic, antifebrile agent and painkiller. This study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulative effects of AST In mice, using in vitro and in vivo experiments. The immunomodulative effects were studied in vitro by measuring the proliferation of mice splenocytes and the production of three kinds of cytokines (IL-$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$) by mice peritoneal macrophages which were cultured with sequential fractions of AST methanol extract (methanol, hexane, chlo-roform, ethylacetate, butanol and water). In an in vivo experiment using mice, different concentrations of AST water extract were orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages, and the proliferation of mice splenocytes, were used as indices for immunocompetence. In vitro supplementation using six fractions of AST in the range of 1 to 100$\mu$ g/ml enhanced splenocyte proliferation by 10.5% to 53% compared to the control. IL-1$\beta$production was significantly increased with the supplementation of butanol and water extracts of AST. Higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$production were detected with supplementation of methanol, ethylacetate, butanol or water extracts at the concentration of 100$\mu$ g/ml. In the in vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen in the mice orally administrated with the AST water extract at the concentration of 500mg/kg body weight. In the case of cytokine production, there were no significant differences in the production of IL-1$\beta$and IL-6 among the treated groups and the control. However, TNF-$\alpha$released by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of AST water extract. These results indicate that AST may enhance the immune functions by regulating splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production capacity in mice.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.60-67
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• 2002

Paeonia japonica var. pilosa $N_{AKAI}$, (PJ; Baek-Jak-Yak) is a medicinal plant which has been widely used as a component or blood-building decoctions. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of PJ in mice, using in vitro and in vivo experiments. The immunomodulative effects were studied in vitro by determining the proliferation or mice splenocytes and the production of three kinds of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$) by mire peritoneal macrophages which were cultured with sequential fractions of PJ methanol extract (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water). In an in vivo experiment using mice, different concentrations of PJ water extract were orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages, and the proliferation of mice splenocytes, were used as indices for immunocompetence. In vitro supplementation using a hexane fraction of PJ in the range of 1 to 100 $\mu$ g/ml enhanced splenocyte proliferation by 1.8 to 12%, and by 10-15% using an aqueous fraction, compared to the control. IL-l$\beta$ production was significantly increased with the supplementation of butanol, hexane and water extracts of PJ Higher levels of IL-6 production were detected with supplementation of chloroform or water extracts. However, there were no significant differences in the production of TNF-$\alpha$ among the treated groups and the control. From the in vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen in the mice orally administrated with the PJ water extract at the concentration of 500 mg/kg body weight. In the case of cytosine production, IL-1-$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ released by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of a PJ water extract. These results indicate that Pl may enhance the immune function by regulating splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production capacity in mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2005

Houttuynia cordata THNUB (He; Uh-Sung-Cho) is a medicinal plant which has been widely used as a component of blood-building decoctions. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effect of He in mice. In vitro experiment, the mice splenocytes proliferation and three kinds of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) production by mice peritoneal macrophages cultured with six (methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water) fractions of He were used to indicate the immunomodulative effect. Ex vivo experiment, the different concentrations of He water extract was orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF- $\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages and the mice splenocytes proliferation were used as an index for the immunocompetence. The supplementation of all six fractions of He enhanced the splenocytes proliferation at the level of 6.58$\pm$1.23∼47.82$\pm$5.48 compared to that of control in the range of 1∼50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. IL-1$\beta$ production was significantly increased with the supplementation of chloroform and water extract of He. Higher level of IL-6 production was detected by the supplementation of ethylacetate, butanol and water extract. TNF - $\alpha$ production was enhanced by the supplementation of all six fractions of He. From the ex vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen from the mice orally administrated with the He water extract at the concentration of 500 mg/kg bw In case of cytokines production, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF- $\alpha$ release by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of He water extract. These results indicated that He may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokines production capacity in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2009

Codonopsis lanceolatae have been used as one of the traditional remedies as well as food source. We previously reported that in vitro supplementation of Codonopsis lanceolatae water extracts enhanced the splenocytes proliferation compared to the control group. This study, the combined immunomodulative effect of water extract Codonopsis lanceolatae was Seven to eight weeks old mice(balb/c) was fed ad libitum on chow diet and water extract of Codonopsis lanceolatae was orally administrated every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). The production of cytokine(IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, were detected by ELISA assay using the cytokine kit. The result of ex vivo study showed that the IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ was detected at 500 mg/kg B.W. supplementation group with LPS stimulation in all cases. Also, ratio of IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-10 was the range of 3${\sim}$7 with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that Codonopsis lanceolatae extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the cytokine(IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$) prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.362-367
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• 2012

Corn has been used for a long time as a traditional remedy, as well as a food source. We previously reported that in vitro supplementation of corn water extracts enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes, compared to the control group. In this study, we examined the immunomodulative effect of a water extract of corn. Seven to eight weeks old mice(Balb/c) were fed an ad libitum chow diet, and were orally administrated a water extract of corn every other day, for four weeks, at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg B.W). Cytokine production(IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$) by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not stimulated with LPS was detected by ELISA assay using the cytokine kit. In an ex vivo study, the cytokines IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were detected at 500 mg/kg b.w. supplementation group with LPS stimulation in all cases. Also, the ratio of IFN-${\gamma}$ to IL-10 was in the range of 0~3 with mitogen stimulation, such as con A and LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that in mice, corn extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the cytokine production(IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$) of the activated macrophages.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.624-629
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• 2007

Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) has long been used for food source in this country. This study was performed to evalute the immunomodulative effects of Hizikia fusiforme (sea weed fusiforme) in mouse, using in vivo experiments. In vivo experiment, different concentration (0, 50, 500 mg/kg B.W.) of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for two weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the production of three cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha})$ secreted by activated macrophage. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50 mg/kg B.W. and 500 mg/kg B.W. concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen from the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50 mg/kg B.W. Also, the mouse of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts supplementation group in the both concentrations showed enhanced levels of cytokine production by activated peritoneal macrophages compared to those in control group. The highest level of cytokine ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha})$ production was observed at 50 mg/kg B.W. supplementation group with LPS stimulation in all cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1027-1034
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• 2017

The immune system is a complex process within the body that protects against disease. Recently, many studies have attempted to discover immunomodulative compounds from natural sources. Pinus koraiensis (PK) cone shell is a by-product of PK. One of the major compounds of PK cone shell is dehydroabietic acid, which has bioactivity, including antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the immunomodulative effects of PK cone shell. The immunomodulatory effects of PK cone shell extracted with 20% ethanol (EtOH) in vivo were examined initially by measuring the natural killer (NK) cell activity, phagocytic activity, Th1/Th2 cytokines release, serum immunoglobulin, and T/B cell proliferation. The NK cell activity and phagocytic activity were increased significantly by a treatment with a 20% EtOH extract of PK cone shell. Th1 type cytokine and T cell proliferation increased and Th2 type cytokine, B cell proliferation and serum immunoglobulin A, G, and E decreased after a treatment with PK cone shell extract. The 20% EtOH extract of the PK cone shell normalized the unbalanced production of Th1/Th2 type cytokine. This suggests that a 20% EtOH extract of PK cone shell has great potential as a health food.