Effects of Taiwanofungus camphoratus on non-specific and specific immune activities in mice

Abstract

Taiwanofungus camphoratus is a precious medicinal fungus endemic to Taiwan and has been used as traditional medicine for a long time. Many pharmacological studies have revealed that T. camphoratus possessed various biological activities, such as immunomodulatory effects, anticancer activity and liver protective function. The aim of this study is to investigate the non-specific and antigen (ovalbumin [OVA])-specific immunomodulation effects of solid-state cultivated powder of T. camphoratus (Leader Antrodia cinnamomea [LAC]) in BABL/c male mice. In non-specific and antigen-specific immune function studies, 8-week-old mice were orally administered with LAC for 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. The results have shown that the proliferation of splenic immune cells, phagocytic activity of macrophages and cytolytic activity of natural killer cells were enhanced by LAC. Additionally, LAC increased the levels of IL-2, TNF-α, INF-γ, GM-CSF and serum OVA-IgG and OVA-IgM. These findings provided evidences that LAC had the immunomodulation effects on both antigen-specific and non-specific immune responses in mice.

Figures

Figure 1.

Effect of LAC on natural…

Figure 1.

Effect of LAC on natural killer (NK) cell activity. The mice were administered…

Figure 1. Effect of LAC on natural killer (NK) cell activity. The mice were administered with LAC (198, 593, 988 mg/kg) and positive control (PC, 260 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. The spleen cells were isolated from mice and NK cell activity was analysed by cytotoxic assay. The effector-to-target ratios (E/T ratios) were 6.25:1 and 12.5:1. All data were presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05 compared to normal control (NC).

Figure 2.

Effect of LAC on phagocytic…

Figure 2.

Effect of LAC on phagocytic cell activity. The mice were administered with LAC…

Figure 2. Effect of LAC on phagocytic cell activity. The mice were administered with LAC (198, 593, 988 mg/kg) and positive control (PC, 260 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. The spleen cells were isolated from mice and phagocytosis of E. coli by leukocytes was analysed by flow cytometry. All data were presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05 compared to normal control (NC).

Figure 3.

Effect of LAC on serum…

Figure 3.

Effect of LAC on serum OVA-IgG and OVA-IgM secretion. The mice were administered…

Figure 3. Effect of LAC on serum OVA-IgG and OVA-IgM secretion. The mice were administered with LAC (198, 593, 988 mg/kg) and positive control (PC, 260 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. (a) The serum OVA-IgG and (b) OVA-IgM were analysed using ELISA assays. All data were presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05 compared to normal control (NC).