title: Protective effect of ginseng polysaccharides on influenza viral infection.
abstract: Ginseng polysaccharide has been known to have multiple immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether Panax ginseng polysaccharide (GP) would have a preventive effect on influenza infection. Administration of mice with GP prior to infection was found to confer a survival benefit against infection with H1N1 (A/PR/8/34) and H3N2 (A/Philippines/82) influenza viruses. Mice infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus suspended in GP solution showed moderately enhanced survival rates and lower levels of lung viral titers and the inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Daily treatment of vaccinated mice with GP improved their survival against heterosubtypic lethal challenge. This study demonstrates the first evidence that GP can be used as a remedy against influenza viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dae-Goon
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Min-Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyoung-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Fu-Shi
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jae Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Bao-Zhong
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Young-Keol
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
authors.forename: Sang-Moo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides