Effects of the ethanol extract of Cichorium intybus on the immunotoxicity by ethanol in mice.
Effects of the ethanol extract of Cichorium intybus (CIEE) on the immunotoxicity of ethanol (EtOH) were investigated in ICR mice. Mice were divided into four groups, and CIEE at dose of 300 mg/kg was orally administered to mice daily for 28 consecutive days, and normal mice were given vehicle. Mice treated with EtOH were given freely with 20% w/v EtOH solution. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The combination of CIEE and EtOH showed significant increases in the circulating leukocytes and the relative weights of liver, spleen and thymus, as compared with those in mice treated with EtOH alone. However, the body weight gain was not affected. Splenic plaque forming cells (PFC) and hemagglutination (HA) titers to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), and the secondary IgG antibody response to bovine serum albumin (BSA) were markedly enhanced by CIEE plus EtOH treatment as compared with the treatment of EtOH alone. In mice receiving the combination of CIEE and EtOH when compared with EtOH alone-treated mice, there were also significant increases in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, phagocytic activity, natural killer (NK) cell activity and cell proliferation as well as interferony (IFN-gamma) secretion. In the case of interleukin-4 (IL-4) content, however, an insignificant induction observed by CIEE plus EtOH treatment. These findings indicate that the immunotoxicity induced by EtOH is significantly restored or prevented by CIEE treatment.
Kim
Joung-Hoon
JH
Department of Newly-Developed Drugs, Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chunbuk, South Korea. jhunkim@wonkwang.ac.kr
Mun
Yeun-Ja
YJ
Woo
Won-Hong
WH
Jeon
Kyung-Soo
KS
An
Nyeon-Hyoung
NH
Park
Joung-Suk
JS
D000818:Animals; D018651:Cichorium intybus; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol