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- Title
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of TNF-α in response to North American ginseng stimulation.
- Authors
Zhou, David L.; Kitts, David D.
- Abstract
North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) root extract (NAGE) with known ginsenosides composition was examined for its affinity to stimulate human tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Case studies were conducted in three donors, one that was diagnosed with an atopic allergy and two that were normal, healthy subjects. Cultured mononuclear cells were incubated with varying concentrations of NAGE for up to 72 h and culture media were tested for TNF-α concentration. Direct stimulation of mononuclear cell TNF-α production in vitro by NAGE occurred as early as 6 h with 200 g NAGE/mL. The stimulation of TNF-α production was confirmed by TNF-α mRNA gene expression. These interesting results show the immunostimulating activity of NAGE components in reference to TNF-α production. This observation requires further investigation with more subjects to determine the affinity of ginseng in stimulating the human immune system. Moreover, the method of evaluating this response is very useful for standardizing ginseng extracts to a known bioactivity.
- Subjects
TUMOR necrosis factors; GINSENG; AMERICAN ginseng; CELLS; ALLERGIES
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology, 2002, Vol 80, Issue 10, p1030
- ISSN
0008-4212
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/y02-116