ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate effect of emodin on mice immune function and its hemolysis toxicity.Methods The mouse specific immune cells of T, B lymphocytes and nonspecific immune cell of macrophages and NK cells were prepared and incubated in vitro.The different immune cells were treated by emodin with different concentrations of 5,10,15 and 20μM, and DMSO as control group.The effect of emodin on immune cells function was detected by neutral red assay and MTT assay.The hemolysis test in vitro was conducted by emodin with different concentrations of 20, 40, 60 and 80μM, physiological saline as blank control group and sterile distilled water as positive control group, then the hemolysis toxicity of emodin was observed. Results There were no significant difference of T and B lymphocyte proliferation among control group, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μM group(F=0.009,P=1.000;F=0.003,P=1.000), the phagocytic ability of macrophages enhanced in each dose group and was concentration dependent(F=665.525,P=0.000), the proliferation rate of macrophages enhanced and was concentration dependent(F=134.812,P=0.000), the activity of NK cells enhanced and was concentration dependent(F=200.190,P=0.000).Hemolysis test results showed the hemolysis rate was less than 5% in the range of 20 to 80μM emodin.Conclusion Emodin could significantly promote the nonspecific immune cells activity.Within the concentration of experiment, emodin has no hemolysis toxicity.