Immune-enhancing effect of the Korean natural medicine WooKiEum.
WooKiEum (WKE) has been used for the purpose of the development of increased immune-system strength in Korea. In the present study, we examined the anti-immobility effect of WKE on the forced swimming test (FST), and then measured blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue: glucose (Glc), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, and total protein (TP). WKE (0.1, 1 g/kg) was administered orally to mice for 7 d. After 2 d, the immobility time was decreased in the WKE-administered group. After 7 d, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the WKE-administered group (64.6+/-9.0 s for 0.1 g/kg) in comparison with the control group (101.3+/-32.7 s). In addition, amount of Glc in the blood serum was increased, whereas the contents of BUN, LDH and TP decreased in the WKE-administered group. Next, we investigated the effect of WKE on the production of cytokines in a human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages. WKE (1 mg/ml) significantly increased interferon (IFN)-gamma and TNF-alpha production compared with the media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-gamma, about 1.7-fold for TNF-alpha, p<0.05) after 24 h. WKE increased the protein expression of IFN-gamma in MOLT-4 cells. These results suggest that WKE may be useful in immune function improvement.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Hye-Young
HY
Shin
Tae-Yong
TY
Shin
Sang-Wan
SW
Seo
Hyo-Jin
HJ
An
Yong-Taek
YT
Kwon
Bong-Keun
BK
Song
Eon-Jeong
EJ
Lee
Sung-Hoon
SH
Kim
Yun-Kyung
YK
Kim
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
Hyung-Min
HM
Kim
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase