Pathologic chronic inflammation, such as that seen with microbial infection and autoimmune diseases, creates microenvironmental conditions that promote cancer. Therefore, if chronic inflammation can be alleviated, the risk of carcinoge- nesis may decrease. Turmeric is a dried rhizome powder from Curcuma longa. Curcumin, the major constituent of turmeric, presents anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and chemopreventive activities. In the present study, we investigated immune responses to dietary turmeric in ICR mice to determine the effects of turmeric when used as a dietary chemoprevention agent. After dietary turmeric was given for three or six weeks to ICR male mice, the immune responses were characterized. The methods of characterization involved; the determination of the T cell subpopulation in the spleen, relative mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and serum lysozyme activity. Dietary turmeric was found to decrease spleen weight, decrease the proportion of CD4-CD8+ T cells, and decrease phagocytic activity. These results suggest that turmeric might alleviate abnormal chronic inflammation by the action of immune suppression.

Our previous study demonstrated that fermented four-herb combination (Ulgum, Yagmomil, Maesil and Bokbunja) with probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis) (hence, this additives was designated PFH) have immune enhancing and antibacterial effects in broiler chickens. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of PFH on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. Twenty-day-old Ross broiler chickens were fed with or without PFH for 2 weeks. Body weight gain of the 2% PFH-fed group was significantly increased compared with those of the control group (*P<0.05). Moreover, body weight gain of the 1% PFH-fed group was also showed a increased tendency compared with the control group, although the difference was not significant (P=0.06). However, no significant difference in feed intake was observed among the groups. Feed conversion ratio of the 2% PFH-fed group was significantly decreased compared with those of the control group (*P <0.05). In addition, feed conversion ratio of the 1% PFH-fed group was also showed a slightly decreased tendency compared with the control group, although the difference was not significant (P=0.07). However, no significant differences in the proximate composition (moisture, crude fat, crude protein and crude ash) and the physico-chemical index (cooking loss, shearing force, water holding capacity and pH) were found among the groups. In addition, succulence, tending and flavor in meat of all 3 groups were also not different. Taken together, these findings suggest the possibility that PFH could be used as the alternative of antibiotic growth promoters by improving the performance of broiler chickens.