Short-term oral administration of ginseng extract induces type-1 cytokine production.
Ginseng radix (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a popular herbal medicine used as a major ingredient in tonic recipes in eastern Asian countries. In our study, male BALB/c mice were treated orally with various doses of ginseng root extract for 5 consecutive days. The extract reduced the serum level of IgG but elevated the level of IgA. Under in vitro condition, the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated spleen cells from the ginseng-treated mice also showed a significant decrease in IgG production but an increase in IgA production. The serum level and production of IgM was unaffected. The interleukin-2, interferon-gamma (Th1-type cytokines), and interleukin-10 (Tr1-type cytokine) production by Con A-stimulated spleen cells from the ginseng-treated mice showed an upregulation relative to the control group. However, the production of interleukin-4 (Th2-type cytokine) showed no significant change. The activity of natural killer cells was increased in the ginseng group, but the percentages of T-lymphocytes (CD3(+)) and CD4(+)8(-), CD4(-)8(+) subset were reduced. Thus, short-term oral administration of ginseng extract appears to enhance Th1-type cytokine production.
Liou
Chian-Jiun
CJ
Kang-Ning Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Nei-Hu, Taipei, Taiwan.
Huang
Wen-Chung
WC
Tseng
Jerming
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors