title: The Antiinfective Effects of Velvet Antler of Formosan Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) on Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Mice.
abstract: We assayed the effects of velvet antler (VA) of Formosan sambar deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) and its extracts on the anti-infective activity against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo in this study. In vitro data indicated that the VA extracts stimulated the proliferation of resting splenocytes and macrophages in a dose-dependent manner up to the highest concentration used (150 μg mL(-1)). The production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12) by lipoteichoic acid was significantly suppressed after being cocultured with the VA extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Animal test in S. aureus-infected mice demonstrated that the numbers of bacteria determined in the kidneys and peritoneal lavage fluid of S. aureus-infected mice were significantly higher than those found in the same organs of mice pretreated with the VA samples. Moreover, the highly enhanced phagocytic activity of macrophages was further verified after in vitro treatment with the VA samples. The protective mechanisms of the VA samples might include an immune enhancer and an inflammatory cytokine suppressor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, No. 50 Lane 155 Sec. 3 Keelung Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Yeu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Chih-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kun-Nan
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: I-Nung
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wei-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sheng-Yao
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yen-Po
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ming-Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen