• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.137.1-137.1
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• 2003

We investigated immunoactivity of ginkgolides (GLS), the primary active constituent of Ginkgo biloba leaves, against disseminated candidiasis due to Candida albicans. This fungus is a polymorphic opportunistic pathogen. BALB/c mice were induced neutropenia by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cyclophosphamide (CP) 24 hours before an i.p administration of GLS (2 mg/mouse) to the mice. Control mice received diluent (Dulbecco's phosphate saline solution; DPBS) instead of GLS. (omitted)

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2004

In this study, an immunoactivity of panaxtriol ginsenosides Re and Rg1 against infection due to Candida albicans was investigated. The ginsenosides were extracted from Red Ginseng with 85% ethanol and heat-treatment and were analyzed by HPLC on water-acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The HPLC analysis revealed that the extract contained ginsenosides Re and Rg1, which were eluted as a combined peak. By agar diffusion susceptibility, the mixture of Re and Rg1 had no growth-inhibitory activity on C. albicans yeast cells. However, in animal tests BALB/c mice given the mixture of Re and Rg1 intraperitoneally (Lp.) before intravenous (Lv.) infection with live C. albicans yeast cells had longer mean survival times (MST) than MST of control mice groups that received only buffer solution instead of Re and Rg1. In experiments 60% of the ginsenosides-treated mice survived the entire duration of the 50-day observation. The Re and Rg1 mixture induced production of nitric oxide when interacted with RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. In addition, the mixture caused morphological change of the macrophages. These data indicate that immunostimulation by the Re and Rg1 may be responsible for the protection of mice against disseminated candidiasis.