Immunoregulation Effect of Red Ginseng Aqueous Extract on Mice.

[Objectives] The paper was to observe the effects of red ginseng aqueous extract on immune function of mice. [Methods] The aqueous extract of red ginseng was obtained by water extraction and concentration, and 10 mL of aqueous extract was equivalent to 2.86 g of raw materials. Total 240 mice were randomly divided into blank control group, low dose, medium dose and high dose groups of red ginseng aqueous extract, 60 mice each group. Mice in low dose, medium dose and high dose groups were intragastrically administered with 0.24, 0.48, 1.43 g/kg red ginseng aqueous extract once a day respectively, and those in blank control group were intragastrically administered with equal volume of deionized water at the dose of 0.1 ml/10 g once a day for consecutive 30 d. The immunoregulation effects of red ginseng aqueous extract on mice were explored by organ/body weight ratio measurement, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, Con A-induced spleen T lymphocyte transformation test, antibody-producing cells test, half hemolytic value (HC50) test, carbon particle clearance test, phagocytosis test of chicken red blood cells by macrophages and NK cell activity test. [Results] Compared with the blank control group, the degree of toe swelling in low dose group and medium dose group of red ginseng aqueous extract [ (0.62 ± 0.14) mm, (0.53 ± 0.12) mm vs. (0.36 ± 0.10) mm] significantly increased (P<0.05). The ability of T lymphocytes proliferation (0.173 ± 0.054, 0.189 ± 0.063 vs. 0.098 ± 0.012) in low dose group and high dose group significantly increased (P <0.05). The number of haemolytic plaque (137.49 x 10³ ±24.73 x 10³ 148.43 x 10³ ±27.53 x 10³ vs. 112. 96 x 10³ ± 26. 28 x 10³) in medium dose group and high dose group significantly increased (P <0.05). The phagocytosis rate (35.67% ±3.82%, 49.26% ± 6.54%, 57.92% ± 7.36% vs. 24.34% ± 4.22%) and phagocytosis index (0.72 ± 0. 23, 0. 82 ± 0. 15, 0. 91 ± 0. 26 vs. 0. 35 ± 0.11) of low dose, medium dose, high dose groups significantly increased (P <0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in spleen/body weight ratio, thymus/body weight ratio, half hemolytic value, carbon particle clearance and NK cell activity. [Conclusions] Red ginseng aqueous extract could enhance the immunity of mice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]