The effect of Panax ginseng on forced immobility time & immune function in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Panax ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine for many years mainly among Asian peoples for developing physical strength. We undertook this study to determine the immune-enhancement effect of P. ginseng using a forced swimming test (FST) and by measuring cytokine production in MOLT-4 cell culture and mouse peritoneal macrophages.


METHODS
P. ginseng was orally administered to mice once a day for 7 days. The anti-immobility effect of P. ginseng on the FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); latic dehydrogenase (LDH); total protein (TP) and production of cytokines in human T cell line, MOLT-4 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages were investigated.


RESULTS
After two and seven days, the immobility time was decreased in the P. ginsengadministrated mice as compared to the control group; however, this reduction was not significant. In addition, the amount of TP in the blood serum was significantly increased. However, the levels of Glc, BUN, and LDH did not show a significant change. P. ginseng significantly (P<0.05) increased interferon (IFN)-gamma production and expression as compared to control at 48 h in MOLT-4 cells. P. ginseng plus recombinant IFN-gamma instead of P. ginseng alone significantly increased the production of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the mouse peritoneal macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that P. ginseng may be useful for an immune promoter. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of its action.
Shin
Hye-Young
HY
College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Jeong
Hyun-Ja
HJ
Hong
Seung-Heon
SH
Um
Jae-Young
JY
Shin
Tae-Yong
TY
Kwon
Soon-Joo
SJ
Jee
Seon-Young
SY
Seo
Bu-Il
BI
Shin
Soon-Shik
SS
Yang
Deok-Chun
DC
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma