Immunomodulatory activity of red ginseng against influenza A virus infection.
Ginseng herbal medicine has been known to have beneficial effects on improving human health. We investigated whether red ginseng extract (RGE) has preventive effects on influenza A virus infection in vivo and in vitro. RGE was found to improve survival of human lung epithelial cells upon influenza virus infection. Also, RGE treatment reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-6, IL-8) probably in part through interference with the formation of reactive oxygen species by influenza A virus infection. Long-term oral administration of mice with RGE showed multiple immunomodulatory effects such as stimulating antiviral cytokine IFN-γ production after influenza A virus infection. In addition, RGE administration in mice inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchial lumens. Therefore, RGE might have the potential beneficial effects on preventing influenza A virus infections via its multiple immunomodulatory functions.
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. jongseoklee78@gmail.com.
Jong Seok
JS
Lee
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. hshwang33@gmail.com.
Hye Suk
HS
Hwang
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. ej.ko226@gmail.com.
Eun-Ju
EJ
Ko
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. mistybluerain7@gmail.com.
Yu-Na
YN
Lee
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. ymankwon@gmail.com.
Young-Man
YM
Kwon
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. mckim001@gmail.com.
Min-Chul
MC
Kim
Center for Inflammatory, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. kangsm8@gmail.com.
Sang-Moo
SM
Kang
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species