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Effects of Korean red ginseng on cyclophosphamide‐induced immunosuppression: comparative effects of 6‐year and 4‐year old Korean red ginseng
Author(s) -
Hyun Sun Hee
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1120.7
Subject(s) - ginseng , immunosuppression , spleen , cyclophosphamide , immune system , medicine , cd8 , pharmacology , antibody , immunology , traditional medicine , chemotherapy , pathology , alternative medicine
In this study, the protective effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) against cyclophosphamide (CY)‐induced immunosuppression were investigated in animal models. Male BALB/c mice were divided into 6 groups: Normal and CY‐control groups were fed normal diet and the four test groups received modified diets containing 5 or 10% of 4‐year old or 6‐year old KRG powder for 4 weeks. In the subtype and NK cell activity assay, CY was given intraperitoneally in a single dose of 50 mg/kg three days before sacrifice. For the T‐dependent antibody response, CY was given intraperitoneally in a single dose of 50 mg/kg five days before sacrifice and mice were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) intraperitoneally in the next day. CY, as reported, showed suppressed effects on body weights, organ weights, splenic lymphocyte subpopulation (total T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, macrophages and B cells), antibody‐forming cells to SRBC and NK cell activity in these animals. The administration of KRG powder elevated the depressed relative weights of thymus and spleen and increased the number of splenic lymphocyte subpopulation, anti‐SRBC producing cells that were remarkably decreased by the treatment of CY. 6‐year old KRG powder showed more potent effect than 4‐year old KRG in enhancing immune function in the CY‐immunosuppressed mice. These results suggest that 6‐year old KRG is more potent in stimulating immunity in immunosupressed condition than 4‐year old KRG.