title: [Effect of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation on immune function in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immune function of mice being given the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided into five groups. Except the normal control group, the mice were fed with the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation at the high,medium and low doses, as well as medium dose of Codonopsis Radix maintained with low-temperature vacuum method, respectively. Mice were treated once a day for 10 continuous days. Weight change,organ indexes, blood cell indices, macrophage phagocytic function, and IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with normal control group, Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation at medium and high doses inhibited body weight increase of mice; white blood cell count of high dose group was significantly increased; significant increase of macrophage phagocytosis were observed for all groups except the normal control group; and spleen index and IFN-γ level of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation medium dose group were increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation can promote mouse immune function to a certain degree. There was no difference in immune effect between Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation and low-temperature vacuum method during experimental period. However,taking the extract of Codonopsis Radix maintained with sulfur fumigation can exert negative effect on appetite and body weight in mice.
authors.forename: Cheng-song
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xing-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hui-li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shou-tang
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029745:Codonopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D005651:Fumigation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013455:Sulfur; D007371:Interferon-gamma