| Abstract: | As malfunction/absence of immune cells causes a variety of immunosuppressive disorders
and chemical synthetic drugs for curing these diseases have many adverse effects, vigorous
studies are being conducted. The Acanthopanax family has been used as
traditional medicines for gastric ulcer, diabetes, etc. and culinary materials in
East-South Asia. In this study, the immunostimulating properties of A.
sessiliflorus were evaluated. A. sessiliflorus increased not
only the splenocyte number but also immune-related cytokines such as TNF-α. However, it
could not upregulate the expressions of IFN-γ and IL-2. A. sessiliflorus
increased the swimming time, and comparison of organ weights relative to body weights for
immune-related organs such as the spleen and thymus after a forced swim test showed that
it could recover the spleen and thymus weights. It also increased the expression of TNF-α
and slightly increased the concentration of IFN-γ but not IL-2. From the results, we
concluded that as A. sessiliflorus has not only a host defense effect but
also a stress-ameliorating property, further study it will be a promising material of
immunostimulating material. |
