ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanism of phenylethanoid glycosides from the seeds of Plantago asiatica by testing its effects on the maturing of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Monocytes generated from bone marrow of Balb/cj mouse were cultured for 6 days in complete RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS, rmGM-CSF and rmIL-4.50 mg x L(-1) acteoside or isoacteoside was added to cells on day 6 of culture for 24 h. The surface molecules expression level of DCs and their phagocytose ability were analysis by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Both acteoside and isoacteoside could increase the expression of CD11c, CD86, MHC II and CD80 on DCs surface. The ability of unstimulated DCs to uptake FITC-dextran was higher than that of phenylethanoid glycosides or LPS treated DCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both acteoside and isoacteoside could induce maturation of murine dendritic cells.</p>