title: Alcohol- and water-based extracts obtained from Rhodiola rosea affect differently the number and metabolic activity of circulating granulocytes in Balb/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhodiola rosea (RR) rhizomes with roots extracts are traditional natural drugs originated from Asia and now commonly used as adaptogens and antidepressants. The aim of this work was to study the in vivo effect of aqueous (RRW) and 50% hydro-alcoholic (RRA) extracts on the number and metabolic activity of blood granulocytes in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were fed for 7 days RR extract in daily doses 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg. The metabolic activity of blood granulocytes was determined by measuring of their luminol-dependent chemiluminescent activity in scintillation counter, after zymosan stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of blood granulocytes was diminished and their chemiluminescence was enhanced in all groups of mice fed R.rosea hydro-alcoholic extract. Aqueous extract (RRW) was ineffective in all doses applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed difference in the number and metabolic activity of granulocytes mice fed RRA or RRW extracts. Immune characteristics of some individual compounds from RRA and RRW extracts, selected by HPLC analysis, should be carried out in the next experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zdanowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewicki
authors.affiliation: Team of Botany and Agriculture of Medicinal Plants, Department of Botany, Breeding and Agriculture, Institute of Natural ibres and Medicinal Plants, Plewiska, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skopińska-Różewska
authors.affiliation: Team of Botany and Agriculture of Medicinal Plants, Department of Botany, Breeding and Agriculture, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Plewiska, Poland.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buchwald
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacogenetics, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland; Department of Quality Control of Medicinal Products and Dietary Supplements, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław Michał
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mrozikiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microwawe Safety, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D029771:Rhodiola / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D015054:Zymosan