Immunomodulatory activity of ethanol extracts of cultivated Cistanche deserticola in Xinjiang / 国际生物医学工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the immunomodulatory activity of ethanol extract of cultivated Cistanche deserticola (EECCD) in Xinjiang. Methods:Ovalbumin (OVA) was used antigen, ICR mice were divided into 9 g/L NaCl group (blank control group), EECCD group (1 200 μg EECCD), OVA group (10 μg OVA), low-dose EECCD/OVA group (400 μg EECCD+10 μg OVA), medium-dose EECCD/OVA group (800 μg EECCD+10 μg OVA), high-dose EECCD/OVA group (1 200 μg EECCD+10 μg OVA) and aluminum adjuvant (Alum)/OVA group (200 μg Alum+10 μg OVA). Mice were immunized subcutaneously, and the immunization was strengthened once 14 days after the initial immunization. The level of splenocyte proliferation was determined by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in CD4 + T cell, dendritic cells (DCs) surface markers and CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + Treg were evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Results:Three dose of EECCD can enhance OVA-specific IgG titers in serum. The antibody titer in medium-dose EECCD/OVA group was 250 000, which was the same as that in the Alum/OVA group. The medium-dose EECCD/OVA significantly improve IgG1 and IgG2a (both P<0.01). Therefore, the medium dose EECCD was selected as the best dose. MTT results displayed that splenocyte proliferation were significantly stimulated by medium-dose EECCD/OVA ( P<0.05), and the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ in CD4 + T cells were promoted in groups administered with medium-dose EECCD/OVA (both P<0.01). Furthermore, medium-dose EECCD/OVA significantly up-regulated the levels of CD40, CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class Ⅱ (MHCⅡ) on DCs and down-regulated the frequency of CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + Treg (all P<0.05). Conclusions:EECCD has good immunomodulatory activity, can promote Th1-biased response, and has the therapeutic potential for the prevention of diseases.