• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 1994

To evaluate the anticarcinogenic effect and its mechanism of red ginseng, the mice were treated with red ginseng and received subcutaneous Bl6 melanoma cell line injection on the back. Tumor incidence was same (100%) both in water and red ginseng-treated groups, but tumor production was delayed in red ginseng-treated group. Survival time was somewhat longer in red ginseng-treated group. The histopathological findings were similar in both groups, but lymphocytic infiltration around the tumor and melanin production in the tumor cells were prominent in the red ginseng-treated group. Flow cytometric analysis on T lymphocytes and natural killer cells revealed increased $T_H$/$T_S$ ratio and increased NK cells in red ginseng-treated group. These results suggest that the anticarcinogenic effect of red ginseng may be exerted by the increased cell-mediated immunity and natural killer cell activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.118-126
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• 1987

Natural Killer cells are considerd to play an important role in antitumor immune surveilance mechanism. In this study, 21 putative anticancer drugs selected from reference were assessed by evaluating the effect on rat Natural Killer cell activity (NKCA). All 21 herb drugs were extracted in boiling water, lyophilized, autoclaved, and then used for experiment. Culture supernatant of concanavalin-A (Con-A)-stimulated rat spleen cells as a source of lymphokine was also used as a control of comparison. Rat spleen cells were used as effector and NKCA was measured in 4hr $^{51}Cr-release$ assay against Yac-1 mouse lymphoma cell line. In order to determine the optimal conditions for NKCA augmentation, effector cells were treated with 3 different concentrations of each drug for 24, or 48 hrs before testing of NKCA, In optimal conditions determined from previous results, the effect of herb drugs on NKCA were assessed in 3 to 5experiments. NKCA was significantly enhanced by treatment with 4 herb drugs(Ponciri Fructus, Houttuyniae Herba, Aurantii Pericarpium, Nepetae Herba). Culture supernatant of Con-A-stimulated spleen cells also augmented the rat NKCA more significantly. The results show that 4 of the herb medicines supposed to display anticancer effect may have activity as a biological response modifier through augmentation of NKCA.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2021

Objectives: High natural killer cell activity (NKA) is associated with a clinically favorable status in patients with cancer. This study explores whether traditional Korean medicine (TKM) improves NKA in patients with cancer. Methods: We report three clinical cases involving patients with cancer who underwent NKA tests while they received TKM treatment, including acupuncture, moxibustion, wild ginseng pharmacopuncture, and Korean herbal medicines. We analyzed the treatment process and NKA test results of each patient. Results: The NKA of all three patients presented with an increasing tendency during the treatment process. Patient 1, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, received inpatient treatment 3 times between September 16, 2017 and February 27, 2019. The NKA increased from 7.2 pg/mL to 571.7 pg/mL. Patient 2, who had thyroid cancer, was hospitalized 4 times between July 23, 2019 and August 27, 2020. The NKA improved from 317.4 pg/mL to 2000 pg/mL. Patient 3, who had liver cancer, received inpatient treatment 4 times between May 27, 2016 and January 10, 2017. The NKA increased from 22.2 pg/mL to 459.5 pg/mL. The chief complaints of these patients also were alleviated. Conclusions: TKM may be an effective treatment for accelerating NKA. Further research is needed to establish evidence that TKM stimulates NKA.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.282-286
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• 1998

To determine the immune effect of kimchi extracts in mice, 0.5mg/day of the extracts from kimchis, which were prepared with conventionally (general kimchi)and organically(organic kimchi) cultivated ingredients, were treated orally to male BALB/c mice. Following 1, 3 and 5 weeks of treatment , the Interleukin-2(IL-2) production in the presence (con-A-stimulated )or the absence(spontaneous)of con A 95 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and the natural killer cell (NK) activity of the splenocytes were measured. The IL-2 production in most of treatments with methanol extract from general kimchi were significantly higher than those of control(p<0.05).And at the 3 weeks of treatment, the spontaneous or con A-stimulated IL-2 productions from splenocytes of mice treated with it increased more than those of control group, by 2.8 and 2.2 times, respectively. However, the longer the treatment with methanol extracts from organic kimchi showed the higher the enhancing effect on the IL-2 production. The spontaneous or con A-stimulatdIL-2 productions form splenocytes of mice treated with dicholoromethyane fraction from general kimchi also increased at 5 weeks of treatment compared to those of control group, by 2.7 and 2.5 times, respectively. The natural killer cell activity of splenocytes from mice treated with methano lextracts from general kimchi for 1 ~5 weeks significantly higher than that of control goup (p<0.01). The effect of methano extracts from general kimchi was the highest at 3 weeks of treatment, as same as in the IL-2 production. The enhancing effect of methano extracts from organic kimchi on the NK cell activity was the highest at 5 weeks of treatment . The NK cell activity of splenocytes from mice treated with dichloromethane fraction from general kimchi for 5 weeks was significantly higher than those in control and 3 weeks of treatment. These results showed that the effects of kimchi extracts on the IL-2 production and the NK cell activity in mice were profound in long term of treatment (3 and 5 weeks than 1 week) . We suggest that kimchi extracts might have an immune effect in part due to its enhancing action on the IL-2 production and the NK cell activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 1999

The effect of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (PMC) on the cellular and nonspecific immunosuppressions by ketoconazole (KCZ) was investigated in ICR mice. PMC at a dose of 6 mg/kg was administered orally to mice daily for 14 consecutive days. KCZ was suspended in RPMI 1640 medium and orally administered at 160 mg/kg/day 2 hrs after the administration of PMC. Immune responses of the delayed-type hypersensitively (DTH) reaction to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), phagocytic activity and natural killer (NK) cell activity were evaluated. DTH reaction to SRBC was enhanced to normal level by the combination of PMC and KCZ, as compared with treatment of KCZ alone. In the combination of PMC and KCZ, as compared with treatment of KCZ alone, there were also significant increases in activities of natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes along with circulating leukocytes. These findings indicate that PMC shows a significant restoration from the immunotoixc status induced by KCZ.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.412-426
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• 1992

Effects of beta-carotene on the immunobiological responses were studied in ICR mice. ICR male mice were divided into 8 groups (10 mice/group), and beta-carotene at doses of 4, 20 and 100 mg/kg were orally administered to ICR mice once daily for 28 consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide (CY) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to ICR mice with a single dose of 5 mg/kg body weight at 2 days before secondary immunization. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (5-RBC). Immune responses were evaluated by humoral immunity, cellular immunity and non-specific immunity. The results of this study were summarized as follows: (1) Beta-carotene significantly increased the weight ratios of liver, spleen and thymus to body weight depending on dose, and significantly increased the increasing rate of body weight and the number of circulating leukocyte. (2) Beta-carotene dose-dependently increased hemagglutination titer, Arthus reaction and hemolytic plaque forming cell related to humoral immunity. (3) Beta-carotene significantly increased delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and rosette forming cell related to cellular immunity. (4) Beta-carotene dose-dependently increased phagocytic activity, and significantly increased natural killer (NK) cell activity. (5) Beta-carotene dose-dependently inhibited reductions in humoral immunity, cellular immunity, NK cell activity and phagocytic activity by treatment with CY.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Objectives : We investigated the synergistic effects of bee venom (BV) and natural killer (NK) cells on B16F10 melanoma cell apoptosis mediated by IL-4. Methods : We performed a cell viability assay to determine whether BV can enhance the inhibitory effect of NK-92MI cells on the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells, and western blot analysis to detect changes in the expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and other apoptosis-related proteins. EMSA was performed to observe the activity of STAT6. To confirm that the inhibitory effect of BV and NK cells was mediated by IL-4, the above tests were repeated after IL-4 silencing by siRNA (50 nM). Results : B16F10 melanoma cells co-cultured with NK-92MI cells and simultaneously treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) showed a higher degree of proliferation inhibition than when treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) alone or co-cultured with NK-92MI cells alone. Expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and that of other pro-apoptotic proteins was also enhanced after co-culture with NK-92MI cells and simultaneous treatment with BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased, and the activity of STAT6, as well as the expression of STAT6 and p-STAT6 were enhanced. IL-4 silencing siRNA (50 nM) in B16F10 cells, the effects of BV treatment and NK-92MI co-culture were reversed. Conclusion : These results suggest that BV could be an effective alternative therapy for malignant melanoma by enhancing the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of NK cells through an IL-4-mediated pathway.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.159-175
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• 1998

In order to investigate the antitumor effect by Chungsangbohahwan after B-16 cells were transplanted in C57BL/6 mice, and the immune responses in mice induced by methotrexate, the extract of Chungsangbohahwan was orally administered to the mice for 21 days. Experimental studies were performed for measurance of metastasis, cell cytotoxicity in vitro, natural killer cell activity, productivity of interleukin-2. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Inhibition of metastasis in Chungsangbohahwan-treated group was higher than control group with significance on 7th day and 14th day. 2. On the MTT assay, cell viability was significantly inhibited by $5{\mu}g/well$, $2.5{\mu}g/well$, $1.25{\mu}g/well$, and $0.625{\mu}g/well$ of Chungsangbohahwan concentration inhibited cell viability significantly(P<0.05). $IC_{50}$ for cell viability was $2.17{\mu}g/well$. 3. Natural killer cell activity in Chungsangbohahwan-treated group was significantly increased on 100:1, 50:1 E/T(effect cell/target cell) ratio(P<0.05). 4. Production of interleukin-2 in Chungsangbohahwan-treated group was significantly increased(P<0.05).

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 1990

This study was undertaken to evaluate the immune responses to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) and potential anti-tumor effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in the mice bearing rumor induced by DMBA. The frequencies of tumor appearances were 62% in DMBA-treated mice and 14% in DMBA and BCG-treated group, respectively. Cellular immune response such as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to SRBCs, natural killer (NK) cell activity and antigen-binding cell (ABC) assay were decreased apparently in the tumor bearing mice compared to the normal controls. Humoral immune responses such as hemagglutinin (HA) and hemolysin (HE) were noted to be reduced in the tumor bearing mice, but the spleen index increased in tumor bearing mice. All the immunological parameters in the DMBA and BCG-group appeared to be higher than those of only DMBA-treated group. These results indicated that DMBA-induced tumor suppressed host immune responses. Also, they imply the idea that BCG enhanced the immune responses of tumor-bearing host and antitumor effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.93-109
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• 1992

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate both the immunomodulatory effect of evening primrose(EP) oil and the effects of EP oil on immunoregulation by cyclophosphamide in mice. EP oil at doses of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ml/kg were orally administered to ICR male mice once daily for 28 consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide was injected intraperitoneally to ICR mice with a single dose of 5 mg/kg at 2 days before secondary immunization. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells(S-RBC). Immnune responses were evaluated by humoral and cellular immune responses and non-specific immune response. The results of this study were summarized as follows; (1) The humoral immune responses such as hemagglutination titer(HA), hemolysin titer(HY), Arthus reaction and plaque forming cell(PFC) were significantly enhanced in the low dose EP oil administered groups(0.1 and 0.2 ml/kg). However, in the high dose EP oil administered group(0.4 ml/kg) the responses were significantly lowered. (2) In the case of cellular immune responses, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction(DTH) was significantly decreased in EP oil whereas rosette forming cell(RFC) was remarkably enhanced. (3) Activities of natural killer cells and phagocyte were generally enhanced in EP oil. In addition, serum albumin and globulin were also increased.