• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.412-415
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• 2011

Hypocrellin A has gained much attention in recent years due to its light-induced antitumor, antifungal and antiviral activities. Here we report that hypocrellin A exerts immunomodulatory effects on MHC-restricted presentation of antigen. Hypocrellin A inhibited class II-MHC restricted presentation of exogenous antigen, but not class I MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen, in dendritic cells. Hypocrellin A also inhibited the cytosolic pathway of endogenous antigen presentation. However, hypocrellin A did not inhibit the expression of class I and class II MHC molecules on dendritic cells (DCs), the phagocytic activity of DCs, or the $H-2K^b$-restricted presentation of a synthetic peptide, SIINFEKL. These results show that hypocrellin A differentially modulates the MHC-restricted antigen presentation pathways.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2002

Oregonin, a diarylheptanoid derivative from Alnus hirsuta Turcz, Betulaceae, was evaluated for its antitumor activity. Oregonin, known to have an antitumor function, and is a novel immunomodulator, which may augment macrophage activity. MTT assays and NO production tests were performed in order to investigate the cytotoxicity of oregonin in tumor cells and to examine its influence on macrophage in detail. In this study, the tumoricidal activity was also evaluated by a MTT assay. The cytotoxicity measurements in the oregon in-treated group both in vitro and in vivo showed a significant difference from that of the control group. In vivo, oregonin significantly increased NO production in a dose-dependent manner, and in vitro, the thioglycolate-induced inflammatory macrophages increased NO production in a dose-dependent manner after incubation. These results suggest that oregonin reacts with both the inflammatory and non-inflammatory macrophages in a similar way.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-102
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• 2019

Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban (Umbelliferae) which is also known as 'pegaga' is highly consumed and eaten raw as 'ulam' in Malaysia. C. asiatica is used in traditional medicines to treat various health conditions such as rheumatism, inflammation, syphilis, skin diseases and diarrhoea. Various reports exhibited that the crude extracts and isolated bioactive compounds of C. asiatica possessed a broad range of pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, wound healing, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and memory enhancing properties. The pharmacological validation on anti-microbial and immunomodulatory of C. asiatica is very limited and several existence review papers related for this plant had not been focused for both activities. This review therefore attempts to combine the existing literature to offer immense scope for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and bioactivities of this plant related with anti-microbial and immunomodulatory potential.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.206.1-206.1
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• 2003

The immunomodulator Ginsan has been found previously by us to stimulate the secretion of high levels of IL -1. IL -6 and TNF-alpha in irradiated mice. These cytokines are known to induce proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells from the spleen and bone marrow and to protect mice from DNA-damaging agents. The present studies were evaluated as a cytoprotective agent against toxicity of the alkylating drugs. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2001

Background: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin $1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$). Methods: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not. To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-$1{\beta}$, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-$1{\beta}$ quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. Results: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-$1{\beta}$ production from macrophages were $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 8 hours, respectively. This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay. indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effects of M11C on the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA were $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 4 hours, respectively. Maximum gene expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ was much earlier than maximum production of it. Conclusion: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.961-966
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• 2011

This research was carried out to evaluate the value of tofu containing mushroom as a immunomodulator. Tofu was made using $CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$ or Lactobacillus extract as a coagulant after adding powder of fruit bodies or mycelia of Letino edodes and Lepista nuda to soybean milk. Proximate compositions of tofu and tofu containing mushroom were analyzed. Levels of interferon ${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in culture media of lymphocytes collected from mouse spleens after being injected with mushroom, regular tofu, or tofu made with mushroom were measured by sandwich ELISA. In addition, concentrations of IgG1, IgG2a and IgE in plasma or lymphocyte culture media were analyzed. Crude protein, crude lipid and crude ash were decreased in tofu containing mushroom but phosphorus was increased significantly. IFN-${\gamma}$ concentration was significantly decreased in mice injected with fruit body or tofu alone. IL-4 level was decreased significantly in mice injected with tofu containing fruit body of L. edodes. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ was increased in mice injected with tofu containing fruit body of L. edodes. Plasma levels of IgG1 were increased in almost all groups, while there was no significant change in IgG2a levels among treated mice groups. Concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2a were increased significantly in lymphocyte culture media of mice injected with tofu containing mushroom. Plasma levels of IgE level was significantly increased in mice injected with tofu or fruit body of L. edodes, but not in mice treated with tofu containing mushroom. These results showed that tofu with mushroom affected immune activities, and it seems valuable to consider developing the mixture of tofu and L. edodes as an immunomodulator.

• CELLMED
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.11.1-11.14
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• 2020

Nigella sativa commonly known as Black seed, Black cumin or Kalonji (Family Ranunculaceae) is a widely used for its miraculous healing power. Use of N. sativa seeds and oil has splendid historical past in diverse traditional systems of medicine and food. In Tibb-e-Nabwi (Prophetic Medicine), it is considered as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine. Phytochemically; it contains fixed oil, protein, alkaloids saponin and essential oil. Therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone which is one of major active component and has different beneficial properties. In Unani System of Medicine the diseases are treated with nontoxic herbal drugs. As per Unani classical literature N. sativa perform various pharmacological actions like carminative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactagogue, expectorant etc. Ample of phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical researches has been executed on N. sativa., which may include antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, renal protective, gastro-protective, antioxidant properties, etc. This review is an effort to summarize the literature on scientific researches of pharmacognostical characteristics, chemical composition and pharmacological activities of the kalonji seeds

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.302-306
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• 1998

In the previous study we described the antitumor activity of GLB, a protein-polysaccharide fraction of the growing tips of Ganoderma lucidum, against sarcoma 180 solid tu mor in ICR mice. In this study we investigated the stimulatory activity of GLB on macrophages. When analyzed using a flow cytometer, GLB ($100{\mu}g/ml$) was found to increase the phagocytic activity of the BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as chicken macrophage BM2CL cells against FITC-labeled C.albicans by 55.2% and 21.2%, respectively. GLB also increased the spreading and the expression of MHC class II molecules of BM2CL cells as well as the mouse peritoneal macrophages. From these results, it is clear that GLB is a strong stimulator to the macrophages.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2010

This study examined the effects of Acrylamide (ACR) and L-ascorbic acid (AsA) on the proliferation of splenocytes and the mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in young (8 weeks) and aged (82 weeks) C57BL/6male mice in vitro. AsA increased splenocyte proliferation in both groups; however, this effect was higher in old mice, while the proliferation of lymphocyte was decreased except for treatment at $1\;{\mu}g/mL$ low concentration in both mice. In addition, ACR treatment resulted in decreased LPS-induced B lymphocyte proliferation and ConA-induced T lymphocyte proliferation in both groups. However, AsA increased LPS/ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation in young groups and had no effects in old mice except at $0.5\;{\mu}g/mL$ Thus, the present data indicate that there is no difference effect of ACR and AsA on lymphocyte proliferation, whereas the effect of AsA on mitogen-induced cell proliferation was reduced in old mice. Overall, our results suggest that various immunomodulators have differing effects of lymphocytic proliferation on young versus aged mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.439-452
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• 2005

Zinc is ubiquitous in all living cells. Structural and catalytic properties of cellular enzymes are zinc dependent. Zinc deficiency leads to a variety of pathological abnormalities with immune impairment. It is an established fact that nutritional status contributes to overall immune response of individuals. Outcome of zinc deficiency on immune system is so drastic that it is difficult to conceive at the first instance. Zinc supplementation has been advocated to prevent diarrheal disease in children with poor nutritional status. The bioavailability of zinc depends upon its sources. Moreover it varies between monogastrics and ruminants. Controversy still prevails between inorganic and organic sources of zinc with respect to their superiority in bioavailability. Zinc exerts immunostimulatory effects in various laboratory and farm animals. Animals having congenital zinc deficiency diseases like A46 lethal trait usually die due to impairment of the immune system unless treated with zinc. The immune mechanism of zinc and its effect on animals and man are discussed. Zinc has been considered as extremely safe at higher therapeutic doses, but does not provide any beneficial effect but rather may cause immunosuppression. More recently, zinc has been prescribed for immunodeficient hosts, to modulate the immune system so that to a certain extent it can combat against opportunistic pathogens.