Restoration of the immune functions in aged mice by supplementation with a new herbal composition, HemoHIM.
The effect of a new herbal composition, HemoHIM, on immune functions was examined in aged mice, in which various immune responses had been impaired. The composition HemoHIM was prepared by adding the ethanol-insoluble fraction to the total water extract of a mixture of three edible herbs, Angelica Radix, Cnidium Rhizoma and Paeonia Radix. Supplementation to the aged mice with HemoHIM restored the proliferative response and cytokine production of splenocytes with a response to ConA. Also, HemoHIM recovered the NK cell activity which had been impaired in the aged mice. Meanwhile aging is known to reduce the Th1-like function, but not the Th2-like function, resulting in a Th1/Th2 imbalance. HemoHIM restored the Th1/Th2 balance in the aged mice through enhanced IFN-gamma and IgG2a production, and conversely a reduced IL-4 and IgG1 production. It was found that one factor for the Th1/Th2 imbalance in the aged mice was a lower production of IL-12p70. However, HemoHIM restored the IL-12p70 production in the aged mice. These results suggested that HemoHIM was effective for the restoration of impaired immune functions of the aged mice and therefore could be a good recommendation for immune restoration in elderly humans.
Park
Hae-Ran
HR
Radiation Research Center for Bio-Technology, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Jeongeup Campus of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Sinjeong-dong Jeongeup-si Jeonbuk 580-185, Republic of Korea.
Jo
Sung-Kee
SK
Jung
Uhee
U
Yee
Sung-Tae
ST
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D029969:Angelica / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D031048:Cnidium / Q000737:chemistry; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
C529537:HemoHIM; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008934:Mitogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003208:Concanavalin A; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma