Agar, a heterogeneous polymer of galactose, is the main component of the cell wall of marine red algae. It is well established as a safe, non-digestible carbohydrate in oriental countries. Neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) prepared by hydrolyzing agar by microbial β-agarase have been reported to show safety. However, their immunological effects have not been reported yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate immune enhancing effects of neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) from marine red algae Gelidium elegans in mice by performing ex vivo experiments. Six-week-old mice were fed ad libitum. NAOs were orally administrated at three different concentrations (100, 500, and 2,500 mg/kg B.W./day) twice a week for four weeks. The group fed with NAOs at 2,500 mg/kg showed the highest proliferation of splenocytes and production levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in the ex vivo experiment. In conclusion, NAOs can enhance immune function, increase proliferation of splenocytes, and increase cytokine production by activating macrophages in mice.

In order to examine the functionality of broccoli sprout (Brassica oleracea, BS), solvent extracts were prepared and their anti-oxidative and immunomodulating activities were compared with those of broccoli (B). EtOH extracts (E) were potently higher than hot-water extracts (HW) in the antioxidant contents and radical scavenging activity. In particular, the total polyphenolic contents in addition to ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly higher in EtOH extract of broccoli sprout (BS-E; 9.15 mg GAE/g, 4.52 mg AEAC/g, and 1.14 mg AEAC/g) compared with that of broccoli (B-E; 7.83 mg GAE/g, 3.63 mg AEAC/g, and 0.97 mg/AEAC/g). Whereas, total flavonoid content was significantly higher in B-E (1.60 mg QE/g) than BS-E (1.43 mg QE/g). Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using LPS-induced cell line model at a concentration of 10~100 μg/mL, in which all solvent extracts of both broccoli sprouts and broccoli were not toxic to RAW 264.7 cell lines. In anti-inflammatory activity of broccoli sprouts, EtOH extracts also showed significantly more potent activity than hot-water extracts in all sample concentrations tested. In addition, BS-E (100 μg/mL) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 production to 60.9% and 68.9% compared with the LPS inflammation group (without extracts), whereas B-E inhibited 49.6% and 54.9%. On the other hand, in immunostimulating activity by splenocytes and macrophages, hot-water extract showed significantly higher activity than EtOH extract. Especially, BS-HW stimulated the splenocyte proliferation (1.2-fold against saline group) and IFN-γ production (264.39 pg/mL) at 100 μg/mL, and the production of IL-6 (1.33-fold), IL-12 (1.09-fold) and TNF-α (1.49-fold) from macrophages was also significantly enhanced over broccoli. In conclusion, broccoli sprouts showed more potent anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating activity than broccoli, suggesting the possibility of using broccoli sprouts as functional food materials.

To obtain the immunomodulating polysaccharide from chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus sclerotia, IO), crude polysaccharide fractions (IO-M-CP and IO-CP, respectively) prepared from hot-water extract (IO-W) of I. obliquus by EtOH precipitation after MeOH reflux or not. After IO-W was re-dissolved in water followed by EtOH addition in the case without MeOH reflux, EtOH mixture was fractionated into EtOH-soluble (IO-E) and crude polysaccharide (IO-CP). In the meanwhile, MeOH-soluble fraction (IO-M) was separated from IO-W after MeOH reflux. The residue was dissolved in water and was added by EtOH, and then EtOH mixture was also fractionation into EtOH-soluble (IO-M-E) and crude polysaccharide (IO-M-CP). As a result of the macrophage stimulating activity of these fractions, IO-CP and IO-M-CP showed significantly increased cell proliferation and cytokines production than IO-W. Particularly, IO-M-CP promotes the production of IL-12 more than IO-CP. In the splenocytes proliferating activity and intestinal immune system modulating activity through Peyer’s patch, both of 2 crude polysaccharide fractions were significantly promoted in cell proliferation and cytokines production than IO-W, and IO-M-CP was more potent than IO-CP in IL-2 production from splenocytes and GM-CSF production (10 μg/mL) in Peyer’s patch cells. In addition, immunomodulating polysaccharide fractions (IO-M-CP and IO-CP) prepared from IO-W by EtOH precipitation with or without EtOH reflux showed no significant difference in the chemical composition and component sugar. These results suggested that MeOH reflux might exclude low-molecular weight materials from IO-W and consequently increase the immunomodulating activity of IO-M-CP. Therefore, it was confirmed that immunomodulation of polysaccharide prepared from hot-water extract of chaga mushroom was enhanced by fractionation including MeOH reflux and EtOH precipitation.

Platycodon grandiflorum have been used as a traditional remedy and food source. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulating effects of Platycodon grandiflorum in mouse, using ex vivo experiments. Six to seven-week old mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extract of Platycodon grandiflorum was orally administrated at two different concentractions (50 and 500 ㎎/㎏ B.W./day) every other day for four weeks. In ex vivo experiments, the highest proliferation of splenocytes and levels of cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) production were observed in 500 ㎎/㎏ BW/day supplementation group for all three cytokines stimulated by LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that Platycodon grandiflorum extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokine production capacity by activating macrophages in mice.

본 연구는 식용버섯, 특히 능이버섯이 면역조절기능제로서의 가치 여부를 평가하기 위하여 수행되었다. 본 연구를 위해 능이버섯 및 잎새버섯, 표고버섯이 사용되었다. 버섯 추출물을 투여한 생쥐의 혈장내 IgG1 및 IgG2a 수준을 측정하였고, 비장 단일 세포군을 이용하여 T 림프구 및 B 림프구의 in vitro활성화 결과 생성된 IFN와 IL-4 수준을 각각 분석하였다. 실험 결과 능이버섯 추출물 500mg/kg BW투여군과 잎새버섯 추출물 500mg/kg BW을 투여한군에서 각각 IFN/IL-4의 비가 다른 군에 비해 높은경향을 보였다. 또한 혈장 내 IgG2a/IgG1의 비가 능이버섯 추출물 투여군의 경우에 다른 군보다 높았다.이는 능이버섯이 항암작용 및 항바이러스 작용과 같은 type-1 반응을 촉진할 가능성이 있으며, 그 효과가이미 입증된 표고버섯이나 잎새버섯과 비교하여 식용버섯으로써 면역조절 기능 강화 측면에서 우수한버섯이라 사료된다.

This study investigated the fermentative characteristics and immunomodulating activity in Kimchi added with various salts(salt replacement and herb-salt with Acanthopanax senticosus and Glycyrrhizae uralensis) for the reduction of Na concentration in Kimchi. Kimchi using a salt replacement and herb-salt showed a higher level of acidity (0.8～0.84%) than that of the control (0.7%) at 7-day fermentation. Kimchi using a salt replacement and herb-salt showed a lower level of salinity (1.72～1.98%) than that of control (2.3～2.57%) during fermentation. The growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Leuconostoc spp. recorded the highest level (2.3×10⁸ and 2.8×10⁶ cfu/g, respectively) in control at 6 day fermentation. However, those levels in Kimchi prepared with salt replacement and herb-salt were 3.5～5.4×10⁸ and 6.1×10⁶ cfu/g, respectively. It is assumed that the high level of acidity of Kimchi prepared with salt replacement and herb-salt was caused by the increase in the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Leuconostoc spp.. When the macrophage stimulating activity of salt replacement kimchi (Salt-R kimchi) supplemented with hot-water extract from Acanthopanax sentisus (AS) or Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU) was investigated on aging period, Salt-RA kimchi with AS 5% at 6 days (2.78-fold of saline control at 100 ㎍/㎖) and Salt-RG kimchi with GU 5% at 9 days (2.02-fold) significantly increased compared to the Salt-RA kimchi without AS or GU. In addition, Salt-RAG kimchi with AS 3% and GU 3% improved the bitter taste of Salt-RA and potently stimulated the macrophage at 6 days (1.28-fold of Salt-R kimchi) even though its activity was lower than Salt-RA (5%, 1.39-fold).

This study was designed to evaluate a repeated oral dose toxicity and immunomodulating activity of Pulsatilla koreana and Artemisiae annuae in Sprague-Dawley rats. The female rats were treated with Pulsatilla koreana and Artemisiae annuae of control group, low group (0.5 ml/kg), medium group (1 ml/kg), high group (2 ml/ kg) for distilled water, intragastrically for 4 weeks, respectively. To ensure the safety of Pulsatilla koreana and Artemisiae annuae such as the following were observed and tested. We examined the body weight, the feed intake, the clinical signs, the ophthalmological test, the hematological and the serum biochemical analysis. We also observed the histopathological changes of liver and kidney in rats. Hematological results were the increase of neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes in the high dose group of Pulsatilla koreana. The increase immune cells in the high dose group of Pulsatilla koreana might immunomodulating activity. No significant differences in body weight, feed intake, serum biochemical analysis and histopathological between control and fed group were found. In conclusion, Pulsatilla koreana and Artemisiae annuae is physiologically safe and improve immunomodulating activity.

The rhamnan sulfate extracted from green algae seaweed, Monostroma nitidum was characterized as activity in vitro culture assay with macrophages from mice. Rhamnan sulfate indicated that F-4-3 fraction enhanced glucose consumption, as well as the production of nitrogen dioxide and tumor necrosis factor(TNF). F-4-3 fraction was also augmented IL-1 secretion from those macrophages. Effects of the pretreatment of peritoneal macrophages with rhamnan sulfate F-4-3 fraction and several polysaccharides as relative standard on the production of H₂O₂ induced with unopsonized zymosan A were examined. Pretreatment with polysaccharides inhibited the zymosan A mediated H₂O₂ production by macrophages. The phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) mediated H₂O₂production was not affected by the pretreament. These result suggested that pretreatment of rhamnan sulfate interfered with the interaction of macrophages zymosan A. Rhamnan sulfate inhibited zymosan A mediated production of H₂O₂ by macrophages and F-4-3 fraction was also activator of macrophages.

홍삼의 6주간의 복강투여가 생체 내 면역계에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 면역계를 구성하는 주요 장기인 비장과 흉선의 무게변화와 성숙된 B세포와 T세포가 많이 분포되어 있는 비장세포를 배양하여 mitogen에 대한 비장세포의 세포증식능력을 연구하였다. 또한, 생체내 투여되는 홍삼이 면역반응의 매개역할을 하는 분비성 사이토카인의 조절 양상을 확인하기 위하여 생쥐의 혈청에서 분리한 사이토카인의 생성변화를 측정하였다. 연구결과 홍삼의 투여는 비장과 흉선의 무게를 증가시켰고, 비장세포내의 B세포와 T세포의 증식능력에도 유의적인 효과를 나타내었다. 혈청 내 분비된 T세포, B세포 및 대식세포가 분비하는 사이토카인의 농도변화에서도 홍삼 투여군은 면역계를 활성화시키는 IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6 및 IL-12의 분비량을 모두 증가시켰으며, 면역억제성 사이토카인으로 알려진 IL-10의 분비변화에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. 이와 같은 결과는 홍삼의 투여가 면역 반응계 전반을 조절하는 사이토카인의 생성에 영향을 미치며 모두 면역계를 활성화시키는 방향으로 작용시키는 것을 의미한다. 특히, 흉선과 비장의 무게지수가 증가되었다는 것은 세포증식 등의 변화에 영향을 미침으로써 면역계를 활성화시키는 것으로 생각되며, 특히 흉선의 무게 증가와 ConA에 대한 T세포 증식능력의 유의성 변화 및 T세포가 분비하는 IL-2, IFN-γ 등의 사이토카인의 증가는 홍삼의 생체 내 투여가 T세포의 활성화에 크게 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료된다.

This study investigated the effects of mycelium and culture supernatant of Cordyceps ochraceostromat(Co) on air way hyper-responsiveness, pulmonary immune cell infiltration, and Th2 cytokine expression in animal models of atopy and asthma. After ConA(+/-) activation of mouse primary spleen cells, decreased IL-4 and IL-13 cytokine production were seen in the presence of Co mycelium extracts and culture supernatant. The asthma model involved mice sensitized to ovalbumin by i.p. injection treatment; Co mycelium extract was also injected. The atopy model was the dinitrofenylbenzene-treated mouse ear. Ear thicken ing induced by DNFB was decreased by Co mycelium extract, and the extract also inhibited lung cell infiltration in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice. The results thus indicated that the Co mycelial extract reduced the undesirable immune responses seen in asthma and atopy.

동충하초 20여종의 균사와 배양 배지를 이용하여 생물학적 활성 효과를 항산화와 항암 실험을 통하여 알아보았다. 항산화 활성 실험 DPPH와 FRAP실험을 실시하였는데 다수의 동충하초 추출물에서 항산화 활성을 확인할 수 있었으며, 시간에 따른 FRAP활성에서는 배양배지에서 균사체 추출물보다 높은 활성을 나타내었다. NOS와 관련성을 확인하기 위하여 NO활성 실험을 한 결과 NO활성은 추출물의 종류에 따라 증가 또는 감소시키는 것을 알 수 있었다.

하우스 포도 중 대표적인 것으로는 거봉, 델라웨어, 캠벨, 청포도를 열거할 수 있는데, 이에 대한 생물학적 활성 효과 중 항산화와 항암 활성에 대한 보고는 많으나 면역활성에 대한 활성의 연구는 미흡한 실정이다. 이에 우리는 4종의 포도의 메탄올 추출물로 항산화, 항암, 그리고 면역활성을 분석하였다. 전자공유능을 측정하기 위한 DPPH를 이용한 실험 결과 포도 4종에서 모두 항산화 활성을 나타내었으며, 환원력을 알아보기 위한 FRAP 실험 또한 활