title: The effect of Panax ginseng on forced immobility time & immune function in mice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hyun-Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seung-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Um
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Soon-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seon-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: Bu-Il
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Soon-Shik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Deok-Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma