Bioconverted extract of Sophorae fructus modulates the innate immune response in RAW264.7 macrophages and mouse splenocytes

Bioconversion process is the process of treating microorganisms or enzymes involved in fermentation, which aims to produce new functionality. We performed a bioconversion process in Sophorae fructus, which resulted in immune-stimulatory effects. The bioconverted S. fructus (BSFE) increased the expression of immune modulators, phagocytosis activity and the expression of CD80 and MHC class II in RAW264.7 cells. The TLR4-MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in the activation of RAW264.7 cells by BSFE. In splenocytes, the BSFE increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and macrophage activation. After the bioconversion process, the genistin present in S. fructus before the bioconversion process decreased, and genistein was produced. The BSFE also alleviated the expression of immune modulators in lipopolysaccharide-induced activated RAW264.7 cells, which is considered an effect of the produced genistein by the bioconversion process. Taken together, this suggests that BSFE is considered to have immune-stimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects when excessive immune responses occur.