title: Crude extract of Polygonum cuspidatum stimulates immune responses in normal mice by increasing the percentage of Mac-3-positive cells and enhancing macrophage phagocytic activity and natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
abstract: Polygonum cuspidatum is a natural plant that is used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The crude extract of Polygonum cuspidatum (CEPC) has numerous biological effects; however, there is a lack of studies on the effects of CEPC on immune responses in normal mice. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vivo effects of CEPC on immune responses in normal mice. CEPC (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) was orally administered to BALB/c mice for three weeks, following which blood, liver, and spleen samples were collected. CEPC did not significantly affect the total body weight, or tissue weights of the liver or spleen, as compared with the control mice. CEPC increased the percentages of CD3 (T-cell marker), 11b (monocytes) and Mac-3 (macrophages) positive-cells, and reduced the percentage of CD19-positive cells (B-cell marker), as compared with the control mice. CEPC (100 mg/kg) stimulated macrophage phagocytosis of blood samples but did not affect macrophage phagocytosis in the peritoneum. Activity of the splenic natural killer cells was increased in response to CEPC (50 mg/kg) treatment. Furthermore, CEPC inhibited T- and B-cell proliferation when the cells were stimulated with concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Fu-Shin
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Chueh
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jen-Jyh
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Ju-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Jing-Gung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D045468:Fallopia japonica / Q000737:chemistry*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D010936:Plant Extracts; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen