Extracorporeal experimental study on immuno-modulatory activity of Astragalus memhranaceus extract / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in regulating the immune function of human peripheral blood immune cells (PBIC) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Effects of AME on the proliferation activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the tumor cell phagocytosis of peripheral blood adherent monocytes (PBAM) were measured by using 3H-TdR incorporation. Effect of the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) was determined by using 51Cr-releasing assay. Effects on production of IgG by peripheral blood B cells (PBBC) and IL-6 by PBAM were tested by means of ELISA, and effect on production of TNF-alpha by PBAM was studied by means of biological method. Besides, the protein elements of AME were analysed by SDS-PAGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AME could promote the proliferation of human PBMC, elevate the tumor cell-killing activity of CTL, strengthen the tumor cell phagocytosis and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) production of PBAM, and promote the IgG production of PBBC. AME contained multiple protein elements.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AME has effect in enhancing human immuno-function and anti-tumor activity, it could be applied in clinical practice for immuno-modulation and tumor treatment.</p>