title: In vitro immunomodulatory effects of herbal products.
abstract: Immunosuppressive drugs have been developed from natural products such as soil and fungi, which are also the sources of some commonly used herbal products. However, the effect of herbal products on immune response has not been investigated. Because these products can affect the host immune system they can induce either rejection or tolerance after a transplant procedure. To investigate the effects of ten commonly used herbal products on transplant-related immune function we performed in vitro lymphocyte proliferation tests using phytohemagglutinin, mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) assay, and interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 production from MLC. Dong quai, ginseng, and milk thistle had nonspecific immunostimulatory effects on lymphocyte proliferation, whereas ginger and green tea had immunosuppressive effects. Dong quai and milk thistle increased alloresponsiveness in MLC, whereas ginger and tea decreased these responses. The immunostimulatory effects of dong quai and milk thistle were consistently seen in both cell-mediated immune response and nonspecific lymphoproliferation, whereas that of ginseng was not. The immunosuppressive effect of green tea and ginger were mediated through a decrease in IL-2 production, but the immunostimulatory effects of dong quai and milk thistle were not. We conclude that green tea, dong quai, ginseng, milk thistle, and ginger have effects on in vitro immune assays that may be relevant in transplantation in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Chumpon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilasrusmee
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruch
authors.forename: Skuntala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilasrusmee
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kittur
authors.forename: Dilip S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kittur
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis; D028241:Camellia sinensis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020900:Echinacea; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D029790:Ephedra sinica; D005737:Garlic; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D020944:Silybum marianum; D008934:Mitogens; D005894:Panax; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D010936:Plant Extracts